d you must promise to give it
faithfully before I give you the _Laulie_. She's a splendid little
craft. She would make a glorious Viking's bark! I am tempted to keep
my spoil."

While they were talking Bill said to Gloy very loudly, "Never mind the
jabber, boy. Come for a swim before breakfast! I'm off." They
stripped and went in, and as they did so they whispered together and
winked knowingly, then began to race and splash in the water as if they
had no thought in their heads but the enjoyment of the moment, while
the rival captains continued the engrossing debate.

Harry was not unwilling to carry the letter, but he did not like to be
threatened into doing it.

"Suppose I refuse?" he said.

"Then I go off with your boat, and you remain prisoned on Havnholme."

"You could be severely punished if you did so."

"If you are mean enough to tell, and bring grown people and lawyers
into the business," retorted Yaspard.

"I see no harm in taking the letter to Fred," said Tom then.

Tom strongly objected to telling tales. He also scented some rare
shindies in the game Yaspard was playing, and Harry, seeing that the
situation was an awkward one, agreed.

"Is that all?" he asked. But before the enemy could reply there came a
shout from Tom, a howl from Yaspard, a screech from the Harrisons, and
loud laughter from Gloy in the water.

Gloy and Bill had taken advantage of the attention of the others being
chiefly directed to those on shore, and had, as if by accident, swam
nearer to the boats. Then Gloy had held the Harrisons in talk while
Bill quietly contrived to swim to that side of the _Laulie_ which was
farthest from the other boat. No one was aware of his movements until
he had swiftly crawled into the _Laulie_. Leaning over the side, he
slipped the painter from the thole-pin round which it hung, and then
shoving with all his might, he sent the skiffs a good way apart at once.

"After him, boys!" Yaspard cried; but the boys were not ready. Gloy
had come alongside and had caught hold of Gibbie, Lowrie was laughing
like to split his sides at the sight of Bill, nude and dripping, gaping
like a fresh caught cod, rowing for his life. The _Laulie_ was safe
back at her favourite crag in a minute more, and Yaspard could only
comfort himself for being so outwitted by making a captive of Gloy.

"He isn't worth much without his clothes," Harry told all who cared to
hear.

"We'll paint him," retorted Yaspard,