cabal, and make a dead set at me. But I’m not afraid. You’ve got the wrong man to deal with, and—confound the wretched boat!”
He jumped up, and raising the scull, made a sharp dig with it at the shore, and would have broken it, had not Gilmore checked him.
“Don’t!” he cried, “you will snap the blade.”
For, having nearly stopped rowing as he turned to protest, the natural result was that the boat’s nose was dragged round, and the sharp prow ran right into the soft overhanging bank and stuck fast.
Vane tried to check himself, but a hearty fit of laughter would come, one which proved contagious, for Macey and Gilmore both joined in, the former rolling about and giving vent to such a peculiar set of grunts and squeaks of delight, as increased the others’ mirth, and made Distin throw down his scull, and jump ashore, stamping with rage.
“No, no, Distie, don’t do that,” cried Gilmore, wiping his eyes. “Come back.”
“I won’t ride with such a set of fools,” panted Distin, hoarsely. “You did it on purpose to annoy me.”
He took a few sharp steps away, biting his upper lip with rage, and the laughter ceased in the boat.
“I say, Distin,” cried Vane; and the lad faced round instantly with a vindictive look at the speaker as he walked sharply back to the boat, and sprang in.