Bob did not reply. He was standing over Steve, peering down at the latter with a steady gaze. Presently Rush noticed that Jarvis was acting peculiarly. There was a constraint in his manner that Steve had never seen there before.
"What's the matter? Anything gone wrong, Bob?"
"No; nothing has gone wrong. Something's going that way pretty soon, though."
"What do you mean?"
"I promised you a licking, didn't I?"
"I believe you did, but that is all past now. You saved me from the drift. I shan't forget that, old fellow. I hope I get a chance to do you a good turn one of these days."
"You're going to get it now."
"I am going to get what?"
"The licking."
Steve rose slowly to his feet after carefully placing his dinner pail to one side.