"She's the best mother a boy ever had," thought Randy, as he walked
away to join Jack at the dock.

"What a good boy!" murmured Mrs. Thompson. "Oh, I hope he grows up to
be a good man!"

When Randy arrived at the dock he found himself alone. He brought out
the boat and cleaned it up and got the oars. He was all ready for the
start when a boy somewhat older than himself slouched up.

The newcomer was loudly dressed in a checked suit and wore a heavy
watchchain, a big seal ring, and a diamond shirt stud. He might have
been good-looking had it not been for the supercilious scowl of
independence upon his face.

"Hullo there, Randy Thompson!" he called out. "What are you doing in
Jack Bartlett's boat?"

His manner was decidedly offensive and did not suit Randy at all.

"I don't know as that is any of your business, Bob Bangs," he answered
coldly.

"Humph! Jack won't thank you for getting out his boat," went on Bob
Bangs. "If you want a boat why don't you hire one?"

"I don't have to hire one," answered Randy.

"You wouldn't dare to touch my boat," continued Bob, who was known as
the town bully. His father was rich and for that reason he thought he
could ride over all the other boys.

"I shouldn't care to touch it," said Randy.

"Don't you know you haven't any right to touch Jack's boat without his
permission?" went on the big youth.

"Bob Bangs, this is none of your business."

"Humph! I'll make it my business."

"If you do, you may get into trouble."

"I'll risk that. If you don't get out of that boat I'll tell Jack."

"I am not going to get out of the boat."

"Maybe I'll make you get out," and Bob Bangs came a step closer, and
put his hand on the gunwale of the rowboat.

"You leave me and the boat alone," said Randy, sharply.

"You get out of that boat."

"Not for you."

Bob Bangs looked ugly. He was on the point of catching Randy by the
collar when an interruption came from behind.

"So you got here ahead of me, eh?" came in Jack's voice, as he
approached on a swift walk. "I had to do an errand for father and that
kept me."

As Jack came up Bob Bangs fell back in disgust.

"Humph! Why didn't you say you were waiting for Jack?" he said to
Randy, with a sour look on his face.

"You didn't ask me, that's why," returned Randy.

"What's the trouble?" questioned Jack, quickly.

"Bob wanted me to leave the boat alone."

"I thought he was trying to sneak it on the sly," explained the big
boy