"

Bob went on fishing, and Dexter sat biting his lip, and feeling as he
used to feel when he had had a caning for something he had not done.

"I shall do just as I please," said Bob, giving his head a waggle, as if
to show his authority. "So you've got to sit still and look on. And if
you says anything about where the boat came from, I shall tell the man
you took it."

"And, if you do, I shall tell him it's a lie," cried Dexter, as fiercely
as his companion; and just then he saw the man coming back.

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.

BOB ASKS A QUESTION.

"Caught any more?" said the man.

"Only one," replied Bob.

"Ah! I could show you a place where you could pull 'em up like
anything. I say, though, the boat ain't worth a pound."

"Oh yes, she is," said Bob.

"Not a pound and the boat too."

"Yes, she is," said Bob, watching Dexter the while out of the corner of
one eye.

"I wouldn't give a pound for her, only there's a man I know wants just
such a boat."

Dexter sat up, looking very determined, and ready to speak when he
thought that the proper time had come, and Bob kept on watching him.

"Look here!" said the man, "as you two's come out fishing, I'll give you
fifteen shillings and my boat, and that's more than yours is worth."

"No, you won't," said Bob.

"Well, sixteen, then. Come, that's a shilling too much."

Bob shook his head, hooked, and took a good-sized smelt off his hook.

"It's more than I care to give," said the man, who grew warm as Bob
seemed cold. "There, I'll go another shilling--seventeen."

Bob still shook his head, and Dexter sat ready to burst out into an
explosion of anger and threat if his companion sold the boat.

"Nineteen, then," said the man. "Nineteen, and my old un as rides the
water like a duck. You won't?"

"No," said Bob.

"Well, then," cried the man, "I'm off."

"All right," said Bob coolly.

"There, I'll give you the twenty shillings, but you'll have to give me
sixpence back. Look here! I've got the money."

He showed and rattled the pound's worth of silver he had.

"Come on. You get into my boat, and I'll get into yours."

"No, yer won't," said Bob. "I won't sell it."

"What!" cried the man angrily, and he raised one of his oars from the
water.

"I won't sell," cried Bob, seizing the oars as he dropped his rod into
the boat.

"You mean to tell me that you're going to make a fool of me like that!"

He began to pull the little tub in which