Part 19 (1/2)
It was now so dark that but little could be seen on the broad river
Dave turned the craft towards Robber Island andaround on the other tack when there came a shout out of the darkness
”Don't run us down! Why, it's Dave!”
”Right you are,” was the reply Then he saw Roger and the others, who had started to walk to Oak Hall They were soon beside the _sobrd_, and the craft was headed for the school
”So Poole and Merwell had her,” observed Messive her up?”
”Just a little,” answered Dave, modestly
”Tell us about it, Dave!” cried the senator's son ”Somebody told me Meras of the scrappy kind”
”I really don't like to talk about it,” said Dave, his face clouding ”I had some words with Merwell and I knocked hih to let me take the ice-boat”
”You knocked Merwell down!” exclai fellow”
”Dave isn't afraid of anybody,” said Roger, in a tone of pride
In the end Dave was compelled to tell his story, to which the others listened with deep interest They understood the boy from the country perfectly, and said the treatht
When they reached Oak Hall they were nearly an hour late They expected Job Haskers would lecture theive them extra lessons to do, but fortunately they found Andrew Dale, the head teacher, in charge He listened to their explanations with a so so far, or else start earlier,” said the instructor, and let theo in to supper
”Gracious! what a difference between Mr Dale and old Haskers,” was Dave's comment
”I wish all the teachers were like Mr Dale--and Doctor Clay,” returned Roger
The party were just finishi+ng their evening meal when Nat Poole and Link Merwell slunk in The tall youth had one eye nearly closed by the blow Dave had delivered He glared savagely at Dave, but said nothing
”He'll chew you up--if he gets the chance,” whispered Roger to Dave
”Then I won't give him the chance,” answered the other, with a quiet s the students that Merwell and Dave had had a fight and the tall boy had gotten the worse of it To this Dave said nothing, but Merwell explained to his friends that Porter had hit hiuard
”The next tio down and out,” added the tall boy ”He won't be in it a et at him”
Word was sent to Mike Marcy about his mule, and the farain, safe and sound The mean fellow did not add one word of thanks for the inforiven to him
”That's like Marcy,” said Dave ”If he thankedI think I'd drop dead”
”Somethe next few days word also caett and Volney and hoped to catch them before many days He added that he had evidence to convict the swindlers if he could only lay his hands on them
”That lets you and me out,” said Dave to Gus Plum ”I don't think you'll ever hear another word from the two rascals”
”If it hadn't been for you I should have paid theratefully ”And they would have kept me in their power if they could”
Dave was anxiously awaiting a letter from his uncle, and when it came he could scarcely take tier was he to know its contents The letter was very brief and si Saturday, and added that if he really wanted to go to London he could do so Dave was to show the letter to Doctor Clay, in order to get the necessary permission to leave the Hall