"Why, you impudent beggar!" exclaimed Brandon, almost foaming at the mouth with rage, "how dare you say that to me?" "There's no courage needed," said Dean, dryly. "Are you going to do as I ask you?" "No, I'm not," said Brandon, shortly. "Be off with you, if you know what's best for yourself, or I may take it into my head to thrash you." "I am ready—any time, except now. I have something else to do." Brandon Bates was standing with the boat rope in his hands, preparing to draw it into the boat-house. He was by no means prepared for what was coming. Dean with a quick movement snatched the rope from him, jumped into the boat, seized the oars, and before the owner had recovered from his astonishment, was two lengths away, rowing in the direction of the island. "Come back here, you rascal!" exclaimed Brandon, almost purple with rage, and stamping in his fury. "I have no time," answered Dean, coolly. "What do you mean by stealing my boat?" "Your boat is safe, I have only borrowed it." "I never saw such impudence! I will have you arrested!" "Do so if you want to. I am going to rescue the poor little fellow you have left on the island." "Then take your own boat." "Tommy went over on your boat, and he's going back on the same." Brandon called out again, but Dean was now too far away to hear him. The temper of Brandon Bates was not the sweetest, but it is doubtful whether he had ever been more angry than at the present moment. He felt that his dignity had been outraged, and himself insulted, and that, too, by a working boy. "I'd like to shoot him!" he vociferated, shaking his fist in impotent rage at the rapidly-receding boat. Tommy meanwhile had seen what was going on, the distance being inconsiderable. As soon as he saw that his situation was known to Dean, the little fellow's excitement and alarm subsided. "Dean will come for me, and take me home," he said to himself. When he saw Dean's bold seizure of the boat, he clapped his hands in joy. "Dean's a good deal better boy than Brandon," he said. He rose from his place, and stood watching eagerly for the coming of his deliverer. "Hallo, Tommy!" called out Dean, when he was within hearing distance. "Hallo, Dean!" "Were you very much frightened?" "Yes; I thought I'd have to stay here all night." Swiftly the boat sped through the water till it grazed the pebbly shore. "Jump in, Tommy!" Tommy needed no second bidding. "Oh, Dean, I'm so glad you came for me." "And I'm glad I saw you. What made Brandon play such a trick on you?" "I don't know. When I begged him to take me back he only laughed." "He doesn't look much like laughing now," said Dean, smiling, as he saw Brandon still standing at the boat wharf, shaking his fist angrily. "I hope he won't fight you, Dean," said Tommy, rather troubled. "He may if he wants to. I think he will get the worst of it." Meanwhile Brandon caught sight of the village constable, walking along the road a few rods from the shore of the pond.