"I told the captain I would kill you, if need be, to save him," he said, "and I'll do it all the quicker to save my mother. You are a miserable, drunken brute, not fit to live with decent folk. Go away, I will not have you here."
"You?" repeated the man shamefully. "What have you to do with it? Isn't this my house, aren't you my son, isn't your mother my wife? Where else should I go? How can you turn me out–you, a mere boy?"
"Because I am the breadwinner, because you are a drone, an idle, worthless fellow. You are not fit to associate with us. You are no father of mine; I disown you!"
"You cannot put me out," snarled the man, advancing.
"If he cannot, I can!" said Dick, with determination. "If you do not leave here at once, I will drag you out and denounce you as an associate of spies, an habitual drunkard and a thief. Are you going?"
"Yes," muttered the man, cowed by Dick's resolute bearing.
Then he went out, and Dick said in a low tone:
"He will not venture to return at once, but he will seek out his evil companions and try to overcome me yet. I must go. You are a brave boy, Tom. Stick to your mother above all others, and you will come out all right. Good-by, come and see us at the camp to-morrow."
Then Dick hurried out, and made his way toward Broadway where he would be safe. Reaching a main thoroughfare at length, he went on and at last entered the camp, where he was challenged by Ben Spurlock.
"Who goes there?" cried the boy.