Part 3 (2/2)
”I don't believe our enemies will bother you any more, Dora,” said d.i.c.k. ”It's not likely that old Crabtree Will try the same game twice; and Mumps has really turned over a new leaf and gone to work for a living.”
”Yes, I was glad to hear that, for I don't believe he was such a bad fellow at heart. He was under Dan Baxter's influence, just as--as--”
”As Josiah Crabtree tried to influence your mother,” whispered d.i.c.k, and Dora nodded slowly. ”Well, let us forget it, and--My gracious!”
d.i.c.k stopped short, to stare in open-mouthed wonder at a small boat shooting down the lake at a distance of several hundred yards from the sh.o.r.e.
”What's up?” came simultaneously from Tom and Sam.
”Don't you see that fellow in the boat?” demanded d.i.c.k, in increased wonder.
”Of course we see him,” answered Tom.
”Don't you recognize him?”
”No; he's too far off,” came from Sam..
”It's Dan Baxter!”
”Baxter!” cried Dora. ”Oh, d.i.c.k!”
”Nonsense!” said Tom. ”How could he be am here?”
”It does look a little like Baxter,” was Sam's slow comment. ”Yet it seems impossible that he could be here, as Tom says.”
”I say it's Baxter,” affirmed d.i.c.k stoutly, ”I'll hail him and make sure.”
”Oh, don't bring him over here!” interposed Dora, becoming alarmed.
”Don't be alarmed--he shan't hurt anybody, Dora.” d.i.c.k raised his voice. ”Hi there, Baxter! What are you doing here?”
At first there was no reply, and the boy in the rowboat kept on pulling. But as d.i.c.k repeated his call, the rower threw up his oars.
”You mind your own business,” he growled. ”Guess I can row on the lake if I want to.”
”It is Baxter, sure enough!” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Tom.
”The rascal! We ought to recapture him.”
”That's the talk,” added Sam. ”I wish my wrist wasn't so sore--I'd go after him.”
”There's a boat below here,” said d.i.c.k.
”Let's put out in that.”
”He may--may shoot at you,” faltered Dora. ”You know how wicked he can be at times.”
”Indeed I do know,” answered d.i.c.k. ”But he ought to be handed over to the authorities. It is a crime to let him go free.”
<script>