Part 2 (1/2)
”We shall find out soon enough when we return.”
”But I want to know now.”
”You can't know now; so pull away.”
”I shall have the credit of setting that fire,” added Noddy, not a little disturbed by the antic.i.p.ation.
”No, you won't.”
”Yes, I shall. I told Ben I wished the boat-house would catch afire and burn up. Of course he will lay it to me.”
”No matter if he does; Ben isn't everybody.”
”Well, he is 'most everybody, so far as Miss Bertha is concerned; and I'd rather tumbled overboard in December than have that fire happen just now.”
”You were not there when the fire broke out,” said f.a.n.n.y, with a strong effort to satisfy her boatman.
”That's the very reason why they will lay it to me. They will say I set the boat-house afire, and then ran away on purpose.”
”I can say you were with me when the fire broke out, and that I know you didn't do it,” replied f.a.n.n.y.
”That will do; but I would give all my old shoes to know how the fire took, myself.”
”No matter how it took.”
”Yes, it is matter, Miss f.a.n.n.y. I want to know. There wasn't any fire in the building when I left it.”
”Perhaps somebody stopped there in a boat, and set it on fire.”
”Perhaps they did; but I know very well they didn't,” answered Noddy, positively. ”There hasn't been any boat near the pier since we left it.”
”Perhaps Ben left his pipe among those shavings.”
”Ben never did that. He would cut his head off sooner than do such a thing. He is as scared of fire as he is of the Flying Dutchman.”
”Don't say anything more about it. Now row over to Whitestone as quick as you can,” added f.a.n.n.y, petulantly.
”I'm not going over to Whitestone, after what has happened. I shouldn't have a bit of fun if I went.”
”Very well, Noddy; then you may get out of the sc.r.a.pe as you can,” said the young lady, angrily.
”What sc.r.a.pe?”
”Why, they will accuse you of setting the boat-house afire; and you told Ben you wished it was burned down.”
”But I didn't set it afire.”
”Who did, then?”
”That's just what I want to find out. That's what worries me; for I can't see how it happened, unless it took fire from that bucket of water I left on the floor.”