“I don’t care for your bugbears: I’m not afraid of them. I want to steer this boat, and I’m going to do it!” added Oscar stoutly.
“I don’t believe you will steer her on this trip,” replied Dory in a quiet tone. “But I will give you a chance to steer all you want to when we are alone.”
“Do you take me for a little chicken, Dory, that can be led around by you?” demanded Oscar, rising from his place.
“Keep your seat!” added the skipper sharply.
“No, I won’t keep my seat! I will let you know that you are not my boss.”
“In a boat all hands must obey the skipper, as I shall obey you, Oscar Chester, when you are the skipper of any boat I am in; and that is just what Captain Gildrock told you all to do just before we sailed.”
“I don’t obey a little snipper-snapper of a fellow like you, Dory. I never was bossed by any boy, and I don’t begin now,” blustered Oscar, moving towards the stern of the boat.
Dory saw that there was likely to be trouble. He had correctly read the character of Chester; and he was not anxious, while responsible for the safety of the boat and her passengers, to have any difficulty with him. He was not afraid of him, bold and stout as Oscar appeared to be.
Putting the helm up a little, he allowed the schooner to fall off until the strong wind heeled the boat over, so that the water was nearly even with the top of the wash-board. This was decidedly startling to some of the boys, who cried out in their alarm.
The Goldwing went over so far that Oscar was not at all secure in his footing; and he came very