“You yourself said you believed this was bogus,” added Dock; “an’ I don’t s’pose you want to be hauled up for passin’ it.”
Peternot felt the force of the remark, and with a long face took from his pocket-book a bank-note, which he handed to Hank.
“The same to me, if you please,” said Dock. “I said a dollar apiece.”
The squire protested against such extortion, but finally, reminded that he had said two of the boys might come with him, he paid Dock also. Then Cub and Tug held out expectant hands; whereat he flew into a passion.
“I don’t even know ’t the coin is good; and d’ ye think I’m goin’ to submit to any such swindle? Clear out, you melon-thieves!”
“All right!” said Cub, coolly, with his hand on the meal-sack; “but if I don’t take my dollar with me, I take this right back where we found it, and give it to the boy.”
The firm position thus taken by Cub being approved by his brothers, especially by Tug, the poor old squire saw no way but to yield, and Cub and Tug were paid.
“Now a dollar for Hod,” said Hank.
“For Hod!” roared out the squire, like a man tortured beyond endurance. “Hod didn’t come!”
“But his breeches did. A dollar for his breeches,—if that will suit you any better. And quick!” said Hank, “or the coin goes into ’em agin, an’ back to the basket.”