"It's no use, I can't stand it," he told himself. "If they want me to let them alone they have got to cut that out."
It was now so dark that but little could be seen on the broad river. Dave turned the craft towards Robber Island and made a long tack. He was just coming around on the other tack when there came a shout out of the darkness.
"Right you are," was the reply. Then he saw Roger and the others, who had started to walk to Oak Hall. They were soon beside the _Snowbird_, and the craft was headed for the school.
"So Poole and Merwell had her," observed Messmer, on the way. "Did you have any trouble making them give her up?"
"Just a little," answered Dave, modestly.
"Tell us about it, Dave!" cried the senator's son. "Somebody told me Merwell was of the scrappy kind."
"I really don't like to talk about it," said Dave, his face clouding. "I had some words with Merwell and I knocked him down. Then he and Poole were willing enough to let me take the ice-boat."
"You knocked Merwell down!" exclaimed Henshaw. "He's a big fellow."
"Dave isn't afraid of anybody," said Roger, in a tone of pride.
In the end Dave was compelled to tell his story, to which the others listened with deep interest. They understood the boy from the country perfectly, and said the treatment received had served Link Merwell right.
When they reached Oak Hall they were nearly an hour late. They expected Job Haskers would lecture them and give them extra lessons to do, but fortunately they found Andrew Dale, the head teacher, in charge. He listened to their explanations with a smile.
"After this you mustn't go so far, or else start earlier," said the instructor, and let them go in to supper.
"Gracious! what a difference between Mr. Dale and old Haskers," was Dave's comment.
"I wish all the teachers were like Mr. Dale--and Doctor Clay," returned Roger.
The party were just finishing their evening meal when Nat Poole and Link Merwell slunk in. The tall youth had one eye nearly closed by the blow Dave had delivered. He glared savagely at Dave, but said nothing.
"He'll chew you up--if he gets the chance," whispered Roger to Dave.
"Then I won't give him the chance," answered the other, with a quiet smile.
The story soon circulated among the students that Merwell and Dave had had a fight and the tall boy had gotten the worse of it. To this Dave said nothing, but Merwell explained to his friends that Porter had hit him foul, taking him completely off his guard.