"No, I'm going back."
"Wait for me."
"No, I'm going to leave you here a little while. You'll have fine sport," and Brandon burst into a fit of laughter.
"Oh, take me off!" exclaimed Tommy, in dire alarm. "I don't want to stay here."
"You'll be like Robinson Crusoe. You'll have a fine time."
"I don't know Crusoe—I want to go home."
"It's the best joke I ever heard of," said Brandon, laughing heartily. "You will be king of the island, Tommy—King Tommy the First."
But Tommy did not enjoy the joke. He begged and entreated Brandon to take him away, but the hard-hearted boy, by way of answer, impelled his boat vigorously, and poor Tommy, sitting down on the bank, and digging his fists into his tear-stained eyes, felt that he was without a friend in the world.
"How the little chap roars!" said Brandon, turning with a smile to watch the forlorn cast-away.
It did not take him long to reach the boat-house, where he coolly proceeded to put up his boat. He was just hauling it on shore when Dean Dunham made his appearance.