CHAPTER XXVI
THE RIVAL BOATMEN
Herbert, bending over his oars, heard the peremptory order of James tocome back and smiled to himself as he instantly comprehended the mistakewhich the latter had made. From James’ standpoint his own boat was notvisible and it was not surprising that he should suspect our hero ofhaving appropriated his boat.
“I won’t undeceive him,” he thought.
“What do you want?” he asked, resting on his oars, and looking back atJames.
“You know what I want,” said James, provoked.
“How should I know?”
“I want you to come right back, at once.”
“What’s happened? What am I wanted for?”
“You’ll be wanted by the constable.”
“I don’t understand you,” said Herbert, shrugging his shoulders. “Youappear to be mad about something.”
“So I am, and I have a right to be.”
“Well, I’m sure I have no objection, if you like it.”
James was pale with rage.
“Bring that boat right back here,” he said.
“If you’ll give me a good reason, perhaps I will; but I don’t think itnecessary to obey you without.”
“You are a thief.”
“Say that again,” said Herbert, sternly, “and I will come ashore andgive you a whipping.”
“You can’t do it.”
“I can try.”
“Don’t you know I can have you arrested for stealing my boat, youloafer?”
“Who’s been stealing your boat, you loafer?”
“You have.”
“Are you sure of it?”
“Why, you are in my boat this very minute.”
“I think you are mistaken,” said Herbert, quietly.
“Don’t you call that a boat you are in?”
“Yes, I do; but there’s more than one boat in the world, and this isn’tyour boat.”
He rowed near the shore as he spoke, and James, his attention drawn tothe boat, saw that it wasn’t his. At the same time, walking nearer theedge of the pond, he caught sight of his own boat moored at its usualplace.
“I guess I made a mistake,” said James.
“I think you have,” returned Herbert, quietly.
“Where did that boat come from?” demanded James.
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t? Then you’ve taken it without leave.”
“Oh, the owner won’t object to my using it,” said Herbert, with a queersmile.
“How do you know?”
“He’s an intimate friend of mine.”
“The owner?”
“Yes.”
“I suppose it belongs to Mr. Cameron, then?”
“He bought it.”
“Do you call him your intimate friend? He’d be proud if he heard it,” said James, with a sneer.
“Would he?” said Herbert.
“I should think he would, considering your high position in society.”
“I think he’s a pretty good friend of mine but I have never called himan intimate friend.”
“Yes, you have. You said the owner of that boat was an intimate friendof yours.”
“So he is. I’m with him all the time.”
“Then why do you deny that you called Mr. Cameron your intimate friend?”
“Because Mr. Cameron doesn’t own the boat.”
“Just now you said he bought it.”
“So he did, but he doesn’t own it.”
“Then who does?”
“I do,” was the unexpected reply.
“You--own--that--boat?” ejaculated James.
“Yes.”
“Did Mr. Cameron give it to you?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t believe it. That boat must have cost sixty or seventy dollars.I don’t believe he would give you such a present as that.”
“I don’t know as it makes much difference.”
“When did he give it to you?”
“This afternoon. I’ll row in. Perhaps you would like to examine it.” James surveyed with envious eyes the neat, graceful boat, for he saw ata glance that his own boat, even when new, was by no means its equal.
“Isn’t it a beauty?” asked Herbert, not without pride.
“Very fair,” answered James, condescendingly. “Did you ask Mr. Cameronto give it to you?”
“I never ask for gifts,” said Herbert, with emphasis. “What makes youask such a question as that?”
“I thought it queer that he should have given you such a handsomepresent.”
“It was certainly very generous in him,” said Herbert.
“I shouldn’t think you’d want to accept it, though.”
“Why not?”
“Because you are a poor boy and it don’t correspond with your position.”
“Perhaps not; but that don’t trouble me.”
“A less expensive boat would have been more appropriate.”
“Perhaps it would; but you wouldn’t have me refuse it on that account?”
James did not answer and Herbert asked: “Are you going out in your boatthis afternoon?”
“I should like to try yours,” said James.
“I shall be glad to have you,” said Herbert, politely.
“And you may take mine,” said James, with unwonted politeness.
“All right.”
The two boys got into the boats and pulled out. James was charmed withthe new boat. In every way it was superior to his own boat, apart fromits being newer. It was certainly very provoking to think that a boylike Herbert Carter, poor almost to beggary, should own such a beautifullittle boat, while he, a rich man’s son, had to put up with an inferiorone.
“I say, Herbert,” he began, when they returned, “don’t you want toexchange your boat for mine?”
“Not much; I should be a fool to do that.”
“I don’t mean even, for I know your boat is better. I’ll give you fivedollars to boot.”
“No, thank you; there’s a good deal more than five dollars’ differencebetween your boat and mine.”
“Five dollars would come handy to a poor boy like you,” said James, inhis usual tone of insolent condescension.
“I don’t want it enough to exchange boats.”
“Well, I’ll give you ten dollars,” said James. “That’s an offer worththinking about.”
“I shan’t need to think about it. I say no.”
“You’ve got an extravagant idea of your boat. Mine is nearly as good butI’ve taken a fancy to yours. How will you trade, anyway?”
“I don’t feel at liberty to trade at all. Mr. Cameron gave me the boat,but he is to have the use of it while he is here. He wouldn’t be willingto have me exchange.”
“He can have the use of it all the same if it is mine.”
“It won’t do, James,” said Herbert, shaking his head.
“You are very foolish, then,” said James, disappointed.
“I may be, but that is my answer.”
James walked away. He made up his mind, since he could not haveHerbert’s boat, to tease his father to buy him a new one. As to rowingin an inferior one, his pride would not permit it.