Having no recitations after the noon recess, Paul suggested that Jerry, Harry and he should take a sail on his new iceboat Lightning, which had just been delivered to him.
Glad of any diversion that would take his mind from his troubles, Harry readily accepted and the boys went to their several homes for dinner.
Angry that he had failed to scare his rival, Elmer had brooded all the morning over some means of making good his threat, and at last, unable to think of any scheme that would be both adequate and feasible, he dropped into the village butcher shop to consult his friend, Pud.
To his amazement, he found the bully laughing and in high spirits, in striking contrast to the surly gloom he had maintained since the eventful day in Lumberport.
“What’s making you feel so gay?” demanded Elmer.
“The fact that I’ve got Harry Watson now just where I want him!”
His eyes big with incredulity, the richest boy in Rivertown stared at the bully.
“What on earth do you mean?” he finally asked, when he found that Pud made no move to explain his statement.
“Just this!” returned the bully. And he tapped a newspaper which was spread out over one of the chopping blocks.