"We are with you, Dave!" came from the rear of the crowd, and Luke Watson pushed his way to the front, followed by Phil, Shadow, and Buster Beggs.
"Dave Porter is one of the best fellows in this school," cried Phil.
"And Plum and Poole are a couple of codfish," added Buster.
"You are, Gus Plum. You say things behind folks' backs and try to bully the little boys, and in reality you are no better than anybody else, if as good. You make me sick."
"All right, send me word when you are ready," retorted Buster.
In the meantime Dave was still standing over Nat Poole. Suddenly he caught the aristocratic youth by the ear and gave that member a twist.
"Ouch! Let go!" yelled Nat Poole. "Let go! Don't wring my ear off!"
"Will you apologize?" demanded Dave, and gave the ear a jerk that brought tears to Poole's eyes.
"I--I--oh, you'll have my ear off next! Oh, you wait--oh! oh! If I ever get--_ouch_!"
"Say you are sorry you said what you did to me," went on Dave, "or into the river you go!" And despite Poole's efforts, he dragged the aristocrat toward the edge of the dock.
"No! no! Oh, I say, Porter! Oh, my ear! I don't want to go into the river! I--I--I take it back--I guess I made a mistake. Oh, let me go!"
"Then get out, and after this behave yourself," said Dave, and gave Nat Poole a fling that sent him up against the boathouse with a bang. In another instant he was by Gus Plum's side. "Now it's your turn, you overgrown bully," he continued.
"Wha-what do you mean?" stammered Plum, who had looked on the scene just enacted with a sinking heart.
"I mean you must apologize, just as Poole has done."
"I'll thrash you till you do--no matter what the consequences are," and Dave hauled off his jacket and threw off his cap.
"Would you hit a fellow when he is--er--half drowned?" whined the bully.
"You're not half drowned--you're only scared, Plum. Now, then, will you apologize or not?" And Dave doubled up his fists.
The words on Plum's lips came to a sudden end, for at that instant the country boy caught him by the throat and banged his head up against the boathouse side.
"Now apologize, and be quick about it," said Dave, determinedly.
"Oh, my head! You have cracked my skull! I'll--I'll have the law on you!"