d.

"Yah! Who stole the boat?" he cried.

Dexter flushed up, but he made no reply. Only took out his line, and
this time he baited it and threw in again.

"Yah; who stole the boat!" cried Bob again. "I say, ain't he been
licked? Ain't his back sore?"

Dexter set his teeth hard and stared at his float, as Bob baited his own
line, and threw in just opposite, to begin fishing just as if nothing
had happened.

It was a painful position. To go on fishing was like taking up with Bob
again; to go away seemed like being afraid.

But Dexter determined upon this last, drew out his line, and was
stooping to pick up his basket, when Bob broke into a derisive
war-dance--

"Yah, yah!" he cried. "Yer 'bliged to go. Yah! yer miserable,
white-faced sneak! g'ome! g'ome! yah!"

Dexter banged down his basket again, and threw in his line with a big
splash, as his eyes flashed defiance across the stream.

"Ah! it's all very fine," said Bob; "but yer dussen't do that if it
weren't for the river. Why, if I'd got yer here I'd bung both yer eyes
up for yer. Yah! yer sneak!"

"Here, you just be off. D'yer hear!" cried an angry voice; and Peter
came up, broom in hand.

"She yarn't," cried Bob? "Who are you? This ain't your field. Stop as
long as I like. Yah!"

"Wish I was over the other side and I'd pitch you in, you sarcy young
vagabond."

"So are you!" cried Bob. "You dussen't touch me. Fish here as long as
I like. Pair o' cowards, that's what you are--pair o' cowards. Fight
either of yer one hand."

"Wish we was over there," said Peter; "and we'd make you sing another
song, my fine fellow."

"Would yer? Yah! who cares for you!"

"Look here, you've no business to come opposite our place to fish!"
cried Peter, "so be off!"

"Yah! 'tain't your place. Stop and fish here as long as I like; and if
ever I meet him anywheres I'll give him such a licking as'll make him
squeal."

"You be off!"

"Shan't."

"Oh, you won't, won't you?" cried a gruff voice; and old Dan'l came from
behind a laurustinus clump. "You, Peter--you go and get a basket full
o' them brickbats from down by the frames, and we'll soon see whether
he'll stop there."

"Yah! go on with your old brickbats. Who cares for you!" cried Bob.
"Yah! look at him! Who stole the boat, and cried to go home again? Who
stole the boat?"

"Oh, if I could only get across!" said Dexter, in a hoarse low voice.

"Would you give it him if you could!" sa