The stem of the barge was not more than three or four feet distant when the Topover made his leap, but the pointed bow was an ugly foundation to strike upon. He could not throw his body into the fore sheets, but he succeeded in grasping the gunwale with both hands, while the lower half of his body went into the water. Unfortunately the force of his blow had been imparted to the forward part of the barge, and it had been shoved farther away from the shore.
Tom Topover dragged himself into the Winooski. Seizing a boathook, he stood up in the bow of the boat, evidently intending to use it in case of need in defending himself from an attack of his pursuers. The two coxswains reached the shore with their wind about gone, to find that ten feet of deep water lay between them and the nearest part of the Winooski. They could leap into the water and swim to her, and Oscar Chester proposed to do so; but this would have been folly, for the ruffians could easily beat them off with their oars and the boathooks.
Nim Splugger, who had assumed the command of the Gildrock, did not claim to be a sailor, though he had often pulled an oar. He lacked confidence in his own ability, and was therefore not so imperative in his orders as Kidd. The boat was clear of the wharf, and he took time to arrange his crew at the oars. Before he could get them into working order, their attention was attracted to Tom and the movements of the Winooski. They rested on their oars, watching the issue of the affair near the shore.
"Now, back her, fellers!" yelled Kidd Digfield, as soon as he saw that Tom was in the boat.
"No, you don't back her, Kidd!" roared Tom Topover. "That ain't no way to do it! Pull on this side," and the leader pointed to the starboard side; "back on t'other!"
Tom was right, if he did not claim to be a sailor, and Kidd was wrong, for backing her would only have sent the barge along parallel with the shore, with the chances of a deviation which would have thrown the stern within reach of the students on shore. Tom called his disciples by name, and told each one what to do. Kidd took in his captain's idea, and helped him with his words. Under their united directions, the head of the Winooski was thrown around, and she was forced out into the lake.
"I hain't done with you yet, Dory," yelled Tom, shaking his fist at the proper coxswain of the barge. "Afore you are a week older I'll give you the biggest lickin' you ever got in your life. I'll crack half the bones in your body! I'll mash your head till you won't know it from a last year's punkin!"
"You had better bring those boats back before you get into hot water," replied Dory, more in grief than in anger. "Let me tell you that you are stealing them, and Captain Gildrock will haul you up before the court for it."
"Shut up, you monkey milksop! When we've done with the boats we'll set 'em a-fire!" returned Tom.
"I can't stand this! I shall boil over!" exclaimed Oscar Chester. "I should like to get near enough to that scallawag to pitch into him."