“Let go the anchor!” shouted Will Orwell.
Splash it went into the water: the Sylph swung around, and all hands were called. Captain Gildrock made a little speech to the boys, praised them for what they had done during the forenoon, and then gave them two hours’ liberty to go on shore. He expected them to behave like gentlemen, and not disgrace the uniform they wore.
They were to be on the wharf at three o’clock, in readiness to return to the steamer.
The dummy exercise of lowering the boats was made real; and, with the exception of Jepson and Bates, all hands went on shore. No restraint was put upon them as to where they should go. Dory thought he would call upon some of his old friends in the place; and he started for the town, which is about three-quarters of a mile from the lake-shore. After he had passed the railroad-station, Oscar Chester suddenly presented himself before him. He had evidently been lying in wait for him.
“Dory Dornwood, we meet now on an equal footing; and I think I can keep my feet on the solid land as well as you can,” said the second pilot savagely. “I promised to get even with you, and my time has come.”
“If your time has come, Oscar Chester, my time has not gone,” replied Dory calmly; and therein he had the advantage of the rebel. “I don’t want to quarrel with you, and I won’t if I can help it. I should like to talk the matter over with you, for I think you will be fair when you look on both sides of the question.”
“I don’t want to talk it over. You insulted
me last night, and then you caused me to be tumbled into the lake. I am going to have satisfaction; for I never forgive an insult,” added Oscar, waxing fierce as his anger boiled within him.
“I did not intend to insult you; and I only did what any skipper would have done under the same circumstances,” continued Dory.
“No more talk. I intend to thrash you here and now, till you say you have had enough of it, and are willing to beg my pardon,” stormed Oscar, as he threw off his uniform sack, and tossed his badged cap upon the grass at the side of the road.