"He would be a fool if he did not back out, after what he has seen," added Lew Shoreham. "There won't be any more music to-day."
"I think not; and the band may put up their instruments," continued the first officer, as he dropped his pike-pole on the timbers. "Halloo, there! What are you about?"
This sudden change of tone on the part of the officer was caused by the movements of the Topovers on the tow. Tom had appeared to be somewhat bewildered by the failure of the expedition of the Chesterfields, and stood quietly on the forward end until the Racer backed out and pulled for her battered consort. While Will and his companions were watching the movements of the second barge, Tom had made a sudden dive at the cleat on the starboard side, and Nim Splugger rushed to the port one.
Tom had succeeded in casting the tow line on his side loose, though one fold of the rope still lay under the cleat. Nim had not yet been able to loosen the other, the securing of which had been finished with a half-hitch. Will and his force rushed forward to prevent the tow-lines from dragging overboard. Lew Shoreham seized Nim Splugger by the collar of his coat while he was still at work on the rope.
"What are you goin' to do about it?" demanded Tom Topover, springing to his feet, and putting himself into a fighting attitude. "I can lick the whole of you."
Will Orwell was no match for such a fellow as the leader of the Topovers, but he rushed upon him, and got a heavy blow in the face. The second officer was not a fighting man, and, instead of hitting back with his fist, he threw himself upon his antagonist. Phil Gawner went behind him, and clasped his arms around the neck of the chief marauder, while Dick Short went for the legs of the bully. Two others got hold where they could, and all of them succeeded in crowding Tom down upon the timbers.
Lew Shoreham had got his victim under him, and he was strong enough to hold him there. The third Topover, who had been pressing the water out of his wet clothes, attempted to help Nim, but three of the steamer's party went for him.
"That's no way to fight," puffed Tom Topover, as he lay wriggling under the four deck hands. "Let me up, and I'll wallop the whole of you."
"We don't want to be walloped, and you had better stay where you are. Don't let him up, fellows."