TOM TOPOVER HAS REASON TO BE ASTONISHED.
Tom Topover was a stout and wiry fellow, and he had the reputation of
being the greatest fighting character in Genverres. He made a quarrel
whenever he could, and he had proved a handful to several men who had
been called upon to tackle him in some of his marauding exploits. With
this reputation he was afraid of no one though a village policeman
declared that there was more bully than fight in him.
Dory Dornwood wondered that Tom had taken the trouble to ask permission
to use the boats; but as he had done so, and done it in a respectful
manner, it was his duty to answer him; and the circumstances made it a
very disagreeable duty. The coxswain was not a "bruiser," and he had no
taste for pugilism, though, if attacked or assaulted, he was a very
vigorous opponent.
"Those boats belong to Captain Gildrock," replied Dory to the request of
the Topover.
"I know that, but you fellers takes care on 'em, and we only want to
use 'em a few minutes while you ain't in 'em," continued Tom, in a very
pliable manner for him. "We won't hurt 'em a mite, and we'll fetch 'em
back jest as soon as you fellers want 'em!"
"The boats don't belong to me, and I have no right to lend them," added
Dory, with a pleasant smile to soften his refusal.
"The cap'n won't say nothin' if you just let us take one of the boats
for a few minutes," pleaded Tom. "You needn't tell him, and he won't
know nothin' about it."
"I have no right to lend the boat, and I can't do it," persisted Dory,
who had no confidence in the statements or the promises of the Topover.
"What's the reason you can't?" demanded Tom, with a little more vigor in
his tones.
"I have told you the reason: the boats don't belong to me. What would
you say if I should lend your hat to some fellow without your
permission?"
"I shouldn't say a word; just as lief you'd do it as not," promptly
returned the applicant. "I ain't stingy with what belongs to me. If them
boats was mine, I'd let you have 'em all day when I wa'n't usin' 'em."
Tom Topover made this display of liberality in a tone of triumph, and
he appeared to think it ought to settle the question at once. He looked
as complacent and self-satisfied as though he had actually loaned the
coxswain half a dozen barges every day for a week.
"I have ten dollars belonging to my uncle which he gave me to pay a bill
in Burlington when I go there to-morrow," said Dory, amused but not
convinced by the unselfish offer of Tom. "Do you think it would be right
for me to lend that money?"
"Right? Of course it would, if any good feller like me wanted to borry
it. Lend it to me, and I will pay it back next week when a man gives me
twenty dollars he owes me," answered Tom glibly.
"I don't think it would be right, and I can't lend the money or the
boats because they don't belong to me. You must go to Captain Gildrock
if you want to borrow the boats," replied Dory, finding it was useless
to argue the point with one who had no respect for the rights of
property.
"You'll let us take one of the boats, won't you? I hain't got no time to
go'n find Captain Gildrock," continued Tom.
"I will not let you take one of the boats," said Dory very decidedly.
"I have told you I could not."
"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.
"I have nothing more to say," returned Dory, bracing himself up in
readiness to meet whatever might come.
"All right if you hain't; and I hain't got much more to say; only if you
try to call them crews, you'll wish you'd been born deef and dumb,"
added Tom, savagely, and enforcing his threat with a flourish of his
dirty fists. "Come back, Kid, and be in a hurry," he shouted to his
companions he had sent to look out for Matt and Oscar, who were still
too far off to see what was transpiring near the wharf.
Tom Topover started at a smart run for the wharf, closely followed by
his three companions. He had evidently changed his tactics all of a
sudden, and concluded not to fight any battle. The haste displayed
indicated that they were hurrying to get into the boats before any of
the crew could arrive. Dory comprehended the situation at once, and blew
a long pipe on the boatswain's whistle, which woke the echoes of the
quiet grove.
"Git into them boats!" shouted Tom Topover, to the companions he had
left at the wharf. "Untie 'em, and pick up the oars!"
The Topover intended to get possession of the boats while it was
possible to do so, and not lose any time in thrashing Dory, which he
regarded as an easy matter, a mere form. He had called his crew with the
whistle, and Matt, as soon as he heard it, had blown his own pipe. He
and Oscar had by this time got an idea that something was wrong, and
were running with all their speed towards the wharf.
Dory was not content with merely blowing his whistle, and, as soon as
he saw what Tom meant to do, he ran after him. There were about a dozen
Topovers, as nearly as he could judge, but he did not stop to ask
himself what he should do alone against such a host. The leader of the
young ruffians was not as fleet of foot as the three companions who had
attended him to the grove, and they reached the wharf when he had
accomplished about two thirds of the distance.
"Hurry up, Pell Sankland!" shouted Kidd when he came to the wharf,
though the one called was not far ahead of Tom.
Kidd Digfield appeared to be the second in power and influence of the
party, and he gave orders enough when he reached the vicinity of the
pier to confuse and confound those who had obtained a footing in the
boats. There were five in one barge and four in the other. They had
already cast off the painters, and hauled the boats up to the side of
the wharf.
"Let the boats alone!" shouted Dory, when he had nearly overtaken Tom
Topover.
"What are you go'n to do about it?" demanded Tom, halting, and facing
about.
"Those fellows must not meddle with the boats," answered the coxswain,
and he was not disposed to stop to parley with the chief ruffian.
"'Tain't none of your bread and butter; you said so yourself,"
interposed Tom, stepping in front of Dory with clenched fists to bar his
further advance.
The coxswain was not disposed to waste any time in words with Tom, and
he attempted to pass him by dodging to one side, but the ruffian threw
himself upon him, seizing him by his coat collar. This was an act of
violence, and it roused the lion in Dory's nature. He shook off the
grasp of his assailant without any difficulty, for if he was not as
quick as lightning, he was about as near it as a boy of his weight could
be. Once more he attempted to pass his assailant, but Tom got in front
of him again.
"If you want to fight, come on!" foamed the Topover, as he put himself
into the order of battle.
"I don't want to fight, but I shall defend myself," replied Dory. "Out
of my way!"
Instead of taking himself out of the coxswain's path, Tom aimed a blow
at Dory's head. The ruffian might as well have pitched into the
sea-serpent or a royal Bengal tiger as into Dory Dornwood. He was rather
smaller than his assailant, but he had learned the art of self-defence
of a Burlington barber, who had formerly been a teacher of the
"science." His frame seemed to be made of steel wire. He had brains and
great dexterity of movement. Abundant exercise in boats and other
training had fully developed his powers, and every student in the Beech
Hill Industrial School knew that he was a terribly "hard hitter."
The coxswain easily parried the blow aimed at him with his left hand,
and planted a sledgehammer hit with his right in Tom's face. The Topover
went just where Oscar Chester had gone on a similar occasion at
Plattsburg--on the ground, flat on his back. Doubtless the leader of the
young ruffians was greatly astonished, not to say confounded, at this
unexpected reception, for his historical studies had been neglected, and
he had never heard of the Battle of Plattsburg, at least the particular
one to which we refer.
Dory did not think it necessary to push the battle any farther at the
present moment, though Tom instantly sprang to his feet, in spite of
some confusion in his ideas. With one eye on his assailant, Dory
retreated a few steps, and then resumed his march on the wharf.
"Hold on! I hain't licked you yet, and I'm go'n to do it afore I get
through," said Tom, moving towards his intended victim.
"I can't wait for you to do it now," replied Dory, as he broke into a
run.
But Tom began to swear like a pirate, and rushed after Dory. The latter
had no difficulty in keeping out of his way, and he reached the wharf
just as the villains in the boats had shoved them clear of the pier.
Kidd had put six of the party in each barge, and they had manned the
oars. But they had been obliged to leave their leader behind.
Tom Topover now observed this bit of strategy, and he divided his vials
of wrath between the coxswain and his lieutenant.