"I want my pay now!" they heard the boatman declare.
"And you won't get it until I'm ready to give it to you," retorted the mysterious man angrily. "Now you help me get this boat farther up on the sand."
"I won't do another thing! I'm done with you. Give me my money!"
"No!"
"Then take that!"
With a quick motion the boatman drew back his fist and sent it with all his force into the face of the mysterious man. The latter reeled under the blow, staggered for a second, and then toppled over backward on the sand, falling heavily.
"Try to cheat me, will you!" shouted the man. Then he caught sight of the boys. A change seemed to come over him. He shoved out the big rowboat, ran out after it, holding to the stern and then leaped in. The next moment he was pulling away lustily.
The mysterious man lay motionless on the sands.
"Now's our chance!" cried Frank. "That was a lucky quarrel for us. We can capture him. That boatman saved us a hard job. Come on, Andy!"
Together the brothers ran forward.