"I will do that," Bent assented; and he did not seem to think he had taken a large contract.
"Tom Topover could lick any fellow in Genverres, and all of us used to be afraid of him," said Pell.
"Since Dory Dornwood knocked him out, and Paul Bristol gave him more than he could stomach, the fellows have not been afraid of him. Ash Burton and Sam Spottwood were ready to stand up before him."
"I am not afraid of him," added Bent, who had been another such fellow as Tom, in the town where he lived.
All these boys had been greatly influenced, and their characters modified, by their residence at Beech Hill. Now that the three on deck had taken the first step towards putting themselves right, they found a certain strength which had not belonged to them before. They had taken their position, and they were ready to carry it out in spite of the blows and the ridicule of Tom. The two original Topovers were beginning to understand why they had yielded to their old leader, but the fear of his sharp sarcasm had been overcome.
The Lily sailed like a bird, having the wind nearly on the beam. It was only four miles to the mouth of the river, with a leading wind all the way up to the moorings. While they were talking, they heard a distant church-clock strike six. They had got under way before five, and now they were close to the mouth of the river.
Tom still slept; for he had been very tired, and he had been up till a very late hour for him. The motion of the schooner was very easy, and Bent had closed the doors of the cabin so that the conversation could not be heard if any one waked below. After the Lily had come about, she had held a straight course to the river. Not a sheet had been disturbed, and not much change would be required until she reached the bend in the outlet of Beechwater. Kidd had advised that no noise should be made, for he wished to postpone as long as possible the row with Tom Topover.
The result of his cautionary measures resulted much better than he could have anticipated. The Lily went into the river, and the increasing breeze went with her. With a south-west wind, there was no difficulty at the bend; though it was necessary to gybe her there. The wind was not strong enough yet to make this a very dangerous manœuvre; and she came about handsomely, and the mainsail was eased off so that it made but little noise.
"Here we are!" exclaimed Bent in a low tone, when the schooner shot into Beechwater. "There will be no row after all; or, if there is, the principal can settle it. I hope we shall be able to get ashore before Tom wakes."
"Then, if you will get the anchor ready, we will ease it into the water, and haul the jib down without noise," added Kidd.