“If you bid against me, Wolf Penniman, I’ll be the death of you.”
“I think not,” I replied, laughing at this rash threat.
“I will! You will find me an uglier customer to deal with than you did Tom Toppleton. Do you think I’m going to have you dogging my steps wherever I go?”
I could only laugh.
“No one about here wants the boat but me,” he added.
“I want her.”
“Yes, and you want her only because I do,” snarled he.
“It’s an open thing, I suppose. This is a public auction; and if you are willing to give more than I can, of course you will have her,” I replied.
“If you don’t bid against me, she will be knocked off at the first offer.”
“We won’t quarrel, Waddie.”