Part 5 (1/2)
Perhaps his face betrayed his feelings, for the old man exclaimed:
”Keep a stiff upper lip, lad, and it'll all come out well. The missus is interested in yuh already. Tell her that I said to give yuh Joe's gun, and the traps he left. He writ down how he used to git the muskrats an'
c.o.o.ns, too, so yuh kin understand how to set the traps. Tell the missus that yuh mean to share an' share alike with her in the money yuh get.
That'll please her, 'cause yuh see cash is some skeerce with we-'uns all the time. Ten dollars a week don't go far. Sometimes Nancy hunts roots in the marshes, or picks up a few turkles that sells for a dollar or two each. To-morrow yuh bring over the mail. I've got a boat as is fair, if it only had a new pair o' oars. P'raps as a sailor lad yuh could whittle out a pair to answer. Well, good-bye, Darry, my boy, and good luck. Keep an eye out to windward for squalls if so be that Jim Dilks shows alongside.”
When the surfman had pulled with a strong stroke for some distance he paused long enough to wave his hand to the boy; after which Darry turned away to get the articles Mrs. Peake wanted at the store, and for which she had doled out the necessary cash to a penny.
It would seem as though Abner must have had a vision of some coming trouble in connection with the ne'er-do-well son of the notorious wrecker, Dilks, for even as Darry entered the village street on his way to the general store he saw the heavily built young ruffian shuffling toward him.
There was a leer on the features of the bully.
Our hero had knocked around the world long enough to be able to detect signs of a coming storm when he saw them; and if ever the signals were set for trouble they certainly gave evidence of being now, when that s.h.i.+ftless Jim Dilks intercepted the newcomer.
CHAPTER V
AN ENCOUNTER ON THE ROAD
Jim Dilks had long ruled as the bully of Ashley village.
He had a reputation as a bad boy that served him in place of fighting; and as a rule an angry word from him was sufficient to command obedience.
Besides, Nature had made him so ugly that when he scowled it was enough to send a s.h.i.+ver down the spinal column of most boys.
Darry came to a pause. Indeed, he could not well have continued along the path he was taking without walking over the bully, so completely had Jim blocked his way.
”Looky here, didn't yer hear me tell yer last night ter get outen this place?” demanded the wrecker's son, thrusting that aggressive chin of his forward still more, and glaring at his prospective victim in his usual commanding way.
”I believe you did say something like that. Are you Jim Dilks?” asked Darry, and to the surprise of the other he did not seem to show the customary anxiety that went with hostile demonstrations by the bully.
”When air yer going, then?” continued Jim.
”I haven't decided. In fact, I like my present accommodations with Mrs.
Peake so well that I may stay there right along,” replied Darry, steadily.
Jim caught his breath, and in such a noisy way that one would think it was a porpoise blowing in the inlet.
In all his experience he had never come across such an experience as this.
”I see yer want takin' down,” he cried. ”I've run this ranch a long time now, an' there ain't no new feller comin' here without I say so. Yer got ter skip out er take a lickin' on the spot. Now, I give yer one more chanct ter say yer'll hoof it.”
Darry knew what it meant, for he had not knocked around so long without learning the signs of storm and fight.
He had thought seriously over this very matter, after being warned that he might sooner or later have trouble with Jim; and as a result his decision was already formed.
When Jim Dilks saw him deliberately taking off his jacket he stared, with a new sensation beginning to make its presence felt around the region of his heart--the element of uncertainty, even fear.
”Wot yer doin' that fur?” he demanded, shaking his head after the manner of a pugnacious rooster about to enter into combat for the mastery of the barnyard.