"I wouldn't, I swear," cried Vane, sharply.

"Oh, no; not likely. You are too straightforward and generous. But I'm
not blind: I can see; and if punishment can follow for your cowardly
trick, you shall have it. Come, Gil, you and I will row back together.
It will warm us, and we can be on our guard against treachery this
time."

He stepped into the boat, staggered, and would have fallen overboard,
had not Vane caught his arm; but, as soon as he had recovered his
balance, he shook himself free resentfully and seated himself on the
forward thwart.

"Jump in," said Gilmore, in a low voice.

"Yes, jump in, Mr Vane Lee, and be good enough to go right to the
stern. You did not succeed in drowning me this time; and, mind this, if
you try any tricks on our way back, I'll give you the oar across the
head. You cowardly, treacherous bit of scum!"

"No, he isn't," said Macey, boldly, "and you're all out of it, clever as
you are. It was not Vane's doing, the running on the pile, but mine. I
did it to take some of the conceit and bullying out of you, so you may
say and do what you like."

"Oh, yes, I knew you did it," sneered Distin; "but there are not brains
enough in your head to originate such a dastardly trick. That was Vane
Lee's doing, and he'll hear of it another time, as sure as my name's
Distin."

"I tell you it was my own doing entirely," cried Macey, flushing up;
"and I'll tell you something else. I'm glad I did it--so there. For
you deserved it, and you deserve another for being such a cad."

"What do you mean?" cried Distin, threateningly. "What I say, you
ungrateful, un-English humbug. You were drowning; you couldn't be
found, and you wouldn't have been here now, if it hadn't been for old
Weathercock diving down and fetching you up, and then, half-dead
himself, working so hard to help save your life."

"I don't believe it," snarled Distin.

"Don't," said Macey, as he thrust the boat from the side, throwing
himself forward at the same time, so that he rode out on his chest, and
then wriggled in, to seat himself close by Vane, while Gilmore and
Distin began to row hard, so as to get some warmth into their chilled
bodies.

They went on in silence for some time, and then Macey leaped up.

"Now, Vane," he cried; "it's our turn."

"Sit down," roared Distin.

"Don't, Aleck," said Vane, firmly. "You are quite right. We want to
warm ourselves too. Come, Gil, and take my place."

"Sit down!" r