"A thousand—" Appleton gasped. "Why, I'll do it. Let me—"
"No, you won't," Slater broke in. "I'll take that on myself."
"I spoke first. It's my first chance," Dan cried.
"It's my job! I'm going—"
"Wait a minute!" O'Neil silenced the two, who were glaring at each other angrily. "Don't let's have any fighting; there will be enough of that later."
"I spoke first," Dan repeated, stubbornly.
"I had my mouth puckered to spit, that's why," the fat man explained. "A fellow has to spit—"
"I'd rather you wouldn't volunteer, Dan," said O'Neil.
"Why?"
"You might get hurt."