Quicksilver: The Boy With No Skid to His Wheel

by George Manville Fenn

“Well?” said Sir James.

“Well, sir, I wouldn’t, sir,” continued Bob glibly. “I said it would be like stealing the boat; and I wouldn’t do that.”

“Oh!” said Sir James.

“Is this true, Dexter!” said the doctor sternly.

“No, sir. He wanted me to take the boat.”

“Oh, my!” cried Bob. “Hark at that now! Why, I wouldn’t ha’ done such a thing.”

“No, you look a nice innocent boy,” said Sir James.

“Yes, sir; and he was allus at me about that boat, and said he wanted to go to foreign abroad, he did, and the best way, he said, was to steal that there boat and go.”

“Oh,” said Sir James. “And what more have you to say, sir?”

“It isn’t true, sir,” said Dexter, making an effort to speak, and he gazed angrily at his companion. “Bob here wanted me to go with him, and he persuaded me to take the boat.”