“Why?”
“Because I have his gun here in the boat.”
“What?” cried the squire; and the matter was explained.
There was no further hesitation. The boats divided as if going to the attack upon some fort, and after giving the others time to get well on either side of the island, the squire gave Hickathrift orders to go on, and the punt glided swiftly toward the shore.
“You two boys lie down in the bottom of the boat,” said the squire.
“Oh, father!” exclaimed Dick, as Tom slowly obeyed.
“What is it, Dick?”
“It seems so cowardly.”
“It is more cowardly to risk life unnecessarily for the sake of bravado,” said his father; and then, reading the look upon his son’s face, the squire continued with a sad smile:
“I am captain of this little expedition, Dick, and the captain must lead.”