"We're goin' down for a swim," Bill Dean said, as he linked his arm in the hunchback's.—Page 210.
"I don't want to do anything of the kind. You know very well a crooked feller like me couldn't swim, no matter how hard he tried."
"We'll show you how, so don't be frightened"; and Bill motioned for Sam and Jip to force the intended victim along in the desired direction.
Jack knew perfectly well he could not struggle successfully against his tormentors, but at the same time he did not intend allowing them to take him away from the throng where he might find assistance if necessary.
"I don't want to go with you, and shall ask some of these people to help me if you don't go away."
"Then you'd only be makin' it all the hotter for yourself, 'cause we count on stayin' here the whole week, an' you can't be tied to the old maid's apron strings every minute of the time."
"I'll take my chances of that, so keep off or I'll make a disturbance."
Bill had good reason to believe the cripple would carry this threat into execution, and, not wishing to come in direct contact with the guardians of the peace, concluded to bring their sport to a close.
"Of course if you don't feel like comin' nobody's goin' to make you, so we'll say good by."
As he spoke he gave a quick twist of his foot in front of Jack, at the same instant Jip pushed from behind, and the result was the cripple fell forward on his face, in the gravel and sand.