"All right! The boats don't belong to you, and 'tain't none of your business," chuckled Tom. "We'll take a little turn in the furder boat, and I'll see the cap'n arter we come back, and make it all right with him."
This seemed to be a satisfactory arrangement to Tom Topover, and he started for the wharf, followed by his companions, with the evident purpose of carrying out his idea at once.
"The boats don't belong to me, but, as you said, we have the care of them, and we can't let any one take them without Captain Gildrock's permission."
"What are you go'n to do about it?" demanded Tom, halting, and then retracing his steps to the spot where the coxswain stood. "You don't reckon I keer for you, do you?"
"I don't want to make any words about it, and I have said all I have to say," replied Dory, and he still maintained his quiet demeanor, though things began to look like an immediate battle.
"I don't want no words nuther. I'm go'n to take one of them boats, and I want to know what you are go'n to do about it," blustered Tom.
"I don't want to do anything; but the boats are in the care of our fellows, and we are responsible for them. If you meddle with them, I shall be obliged to call the crews, who are here in the grove," replied the coxswain.
"Call the crews, will you?" said Tom, clenching his fists and siding up towards Dory.
"There's two or three fellers comin' down here," interposed Kidd Digfield.
"You 'n' Nim Splugger look out for 'em, and I'll polish off this chap," replied Tom, as he glanced into the grove, where he saw Matt Randolph and Oscar Chester approaching. "Them boats don't belong to you, and 'tain't none of your business who takes 'em. I'll bet you don't call no crews nuther," continued Tom, assuming a decidedly belligerent attitude.