Part 21 (1/2)

Sam had been right when he said that Dan Baxter was like his father. Parent and son were thoroughly bad, but how bad the Rover boys and their friends were still to learn.

On Sat.u.r.day the cadets had a half-holiday, and some of them went over to the lake to fish, Sam and Tom accompanying the party.

While the boys were waiting for bites they espied a large sail-boat skimming along the lake sh.o.r.e. As it came closer Tom and Sam were much astonished to see that the boat contained Dan Baxter, Josiah Crabtree, and Mumps.

”By jinks, there is Mumps' yacht!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Tom. ”How in the world did he get her up here?”

”Brought her by way of the ca.n.a.l and the river, I suppose,”

answered Sam.

”Hullo there!” called out Larry Colby, who was in the crowd.

”Mumps, you might be in better company.”

”You keep your mouth shut!” retorted Fenwick.

”If you talk to me, I'll come ash.o.r.e and give you a thras.h.i.+ng,”

put in Baxter.

”I dare you to come ash.o.r.e!” burst out Tom. ”You'll stay where you are if you know when you are well off.”

No more was said, and presently the boat sped out of sight around a bend of the lake sh.o.r.e. Fis.h.i.+ng proved to be good, and in the excitement of the sport Baxter and the others were, for the time being, forgotten.

It was late when the boys packed up. Sam had six fish, Tom as many more, and all of the others a fair catch.

”We'll have fish tomorrow for breakfast, sure,” said Larry.

”Hurry up, or we'll be late.”

The party started off, but had only gone a short distance when Sam remembered that he had left his knife sticking in the stump of a tree, and ran back to get it, in the meantime turning his fish over to Tom.

The fis.h.i.+ng place was behind a grove of trees, and when Sam reached it again he was much surprised to see Dan Baxter on sh.o.r.e, he having just left the yacht, which was cruising some distance away.

”Hullo! so you came back to have it out with me, eh?” cried Baxter, and before Sam could say a word, he was hurled flat and the bully came down on top of him.

Sam fought bravely, but was no match for the big fellow, who began to hammer him unmercifully. Realizing how matters were turning, the youngest Rover began to cry for help.

”You shut up!” stormed Dan Baxter. ”Shut up, or I'll give it to you worse than ever!”

But Sam had no intention of taking such a drubbing quietly, and he yelled louder than ever. His cries reached Tom, who had dropped behind to allow his brother to catch up.

”Something is wrong,” he muttered, and hanging the fish on a bush, he ran back at the top of his speed.

Dan Baxter heard him coming and tried to get away, but as Tom called out, Sam's courage rose, and he grabbed the bully by the foot and held him.

”Let go!” roared Dan Baxter, but Sam would not, and in a second more Tom was at hand and hit the bully such a stinging blow in the face that Baxter went down in a heap.

A rough-and-tumble scrimmage ensued, and it must be said that the bully got by far the worst of it. Tom hit him again and again, and Sam also, and when at last he staggered to his feet, one eye was almost closed and his nose was bleeding profusely.

”Now I guess you won't tackle any of us again,” said Tom.