“You have done me an injustice in one case, and are repeating it in another.”
“Injustice? Fiddlesticks! You are a cowardly, underhanded scoundrel. For all I know, my ward may be hiding inside at this very moment.”
“Wouldn’t surprise me a bit, sir,” said Bates. “I’d search the house from cellar to garret.”
“Hey, you smart duck,” interposed Jack. “You’re throwing your words around pretty fast, now aren’t you?”
“What’s that?” demanded Bates. His exasperating grin grew broader; he stuffed his hands in his pockets and said, “What’s that?” again, in a much louder and shriller key; and, as Jack made no response, continued, “Salt water might take some of the freshness out of you—this water is salt.”
“Is it?” said Jack.
“It is—to reverse your words,” returned Bates.
“If you don’t stop that grin pretty soon,” said Jack, solemnly, “it may get frozen on your face.”
Bates opened his mouth to make a reply, but Colonel Ellison interposed.
“Enough of this silly bantering,” he said, sternly. “George!” he raised his voice—“if you are in that boat, I command you to come out!”