But they were a good
boat's length distant, and he sat down again with an angry scowl on his
face, and began to pull.

"In for a row again," said Gilmore to himself. "Why cannot a fellow
bear a bit of banter like that!"

To make things go more easily, Gilmore reversed the regular order of
rowing, and took his time, as well as he could, from Distin, and the
boat went on, the latter tugging viciously at the scull he held. The
consequence was, that, as there was no rudder and the river was not
straight, there was a tendency on the part of the boat to run its nose
into the bank, in spite of all that Gilmore could do to prevent it; and
at last Macey seized the boat-hook, and put it over the stern.

"Look here," he cried, "I daresay I can steer you a bit with this."

But his act only increased the annoyance of Distin, who had been nursing
his rage, and trying to fit the cause in some way upon Vane.

"Put that thing down, idiot!" he cried, fiercely, "and sit still in the
boat. Do you think I am going to be made the laughing-stock of
everybody by your insane antics?"

"Oh, all right, Colonist," said Macey, good-humouredly; "only some
people would put the pole down on your head for calling 'em idiots."

"What!" roared Distin; "do you dare to threaten me?"

"Oh, dear, no, sir. I beg your pardon, sir. I'm very sorry, sir. I
didn't come for to go for to--"

"Clown!" cried Distin, contemptuously.

"Oh, I say, Vane, we are having a jolly ride," whispered Macey, but loud
enough for Distin to hear, and the Creole's dark eyes flashed at them.

"I say, Distin," said Gilmore in a remonstrant growl, "don't be so
precious peppery about nothing. Aleck didn't mean any harm."

"That's right! Take his part," cried Distin, making the water foam, as
he pulled hard. "You fellows form a regular cabal, and make a dead set
at me. But I'm not afraid. You've got the wrong man to deal with,
and--confound the wretched boat!"

He jumped up, and raising the scull, made a sharp dig with it at the
shore, and would have broken it, had not Gilmore checked him.

"Don't!" he cried, "you will snap the blade."

For, having nearly stopped rowing as he turned to protest, the natural
result was that the boat's nose was dragged round, and the sharp prow
ran right into the soft overhanging bank and stuck fast.

Vane tried to check himself, but a hearty fit of laughter would come,
one which proved contagious, for Macey and Gilmore both joine