"Better not, Massa Wolverton," drawled Clip. "Might upset the boat."
"Give me the oars," said Wolverton, impatiently.
He took them; but he had never rowed in his life, and he almost immediately turned the boat around.
"Hi, yah!" laughed Clip, delighted. "Where was you raised, Massa Wolverton, not to understand rowin' no better dan dat?"
"Take the oars, you black scoundrel, and row me across, or I'll pitch you out of the boat!"
"Ef you do, what'll 'come of you, Massa Wolverton?" said Clip, not at all alarmed.
This was indeed an important consideration for a man so timid on the water as the real estate agent.
"You put me out of all patience," said Wolverton, furiously. "Are you going to row or are you not?"
Wolverton was compelled to hand over a nickel, but registered a vow that if ever he caught Clip on land, he would make him pay for his impudence.
Clip took the oars, and made very good progress till he was about fifty feet from the other side of the creek. Then he began to make the boat rock, stopping his rowing.
"What are you about?" shouted Wolverton, turning pale.
"It's good fun, ain't it, Massa Wolverton?" said Clip; laughing insolently.
"Stop, you little rascal! You'll upset the boat."
"Golly! ain't dis fun?" said Clip, continuing his rocking.
"I'll choke you, if you don't stop," screamed Wolverton.
He rose to catch hold of Clip. The boy jumped up, and ducked his head. The result of the combined motion was that the boat, which was flat-bottomed, capsized, and the two were thrown into the water.
There was no danger, for the water at this point was only four feet deep; and Clip could swim, while Aaron Wolverton was too tall to be drowned in that depth of water.
Wolverton was almost scared out of his wits. He cut such a ludicrous figure as he floundered in the water, that Clip screamed with delight. The black boy swam to the boat, and, managing to right her, got in again; but Wolverton waded to the shore, almost beside himself with rage.
"Is you wet, Massa Wolverton?" asked Clip, innocently, showing his white teeth.
"Come ashore, and I'll lick you!" shouted Wolverton, who had by this time landed, his clothes dripping wet.
"I reckon I'm too busy," answered Clip, with a grin. "I'm sorry you's wet, Massa Wolverton. Hi yah!"