“What an old nuisance he is!” exclaimed Feargus.
“What a strange father Arthur must have!” said Billie at the same moment.
“Don’t you think we’d better follow to see that no harm is done?” suggested Feargus, after a moment. “Old Crusty might take advantage of no one’s being on deck to strike the little fellow, and, by Jove, I’d like to see him try it when I am there!”
They hurried down toward the stern, and turned the corner just in time to see something which made their blood turn cold.
Little Arthur, frightened, evidently, by the rage of his guardian, had climbed over the rail and was standing on the outer edge of the deck holding to the balustrade with one hand and shaking his other fist angrily at the doctor, who was yelling hoarsely:
“Come back, you silly little fool! Idiot that you are, come back!”
Feargus ran swiftly up the deck followed by Billie.
“Don’t speak to the boy like that or you’ll have him overboard!” he exclaimed.
“Mind your own business! Get out of my way!” cried the excited man, wringing his hands frantically as he hurried along battling with the wind and his waving skirts.
Feargus, instead of following, turned and ran as fast as he could around the side of the ship and disappeared, leaving Billy in a state of anxious perplexity.