“No, you ain’t a-going to keep it nuther! You’ll fool it all away; and it will pay my fare down and back on the cars. So give it to me this minute.” “I won’t do it, Obed Swikes,” said Wade. “That dollar won’t pay no fare of yours to-day.” “If you don’t give it to me this minute, I’ll shake it out of your hide!” “Shake away! You don’t get that dollar out of me as long as I can hold on to it.” Wade retreated to the stern of the boat, which was out in the deep water; and Swikes followed him. When the boy had gone as far as he could, Swikes attempted to collar him; but Wade dodged, and his persecutor, who was walking on the seat, canted the boat so that he lost his balance, and rolled into the river. But the water was not more than four feet deep; and, when he recovered his footing, he walked up the steep incline to the shore. Matt saw this accident to his father, and all the party hastened back. “What’s the matter, Mr. Swikes?” asked the captain. “That boy pushed me into the water,” replied the miser, blowing the water out of his mouth, and shaking himself like a water-dog. Capt. Trustleton looked at Wade when this charge was made against him; but the boy offered no defence. “What’s the trouble here, Brooks?” asked the captain. “Didn’t I tell you that boy pushed me into the water? You needn’t ask him any thing about it. He’ll lie to you if you do,” snarled Swikes. “I don’t think Brooks does all the lying that is done around here,” added Capt. Trustleton. “I want to hear what Brooks has to say about it.” “I didn’t push him overboard, or touch him,” replied the persecuted boy. “Well, he tipped the boat so as to throw me out,” added Swikes. “Mr. Swikes tried to make me give him the dollar you let me have; and, when I told him I wouldn’t give it up, he said he’d shake it out of me. I told him to shake away, and he tried to grab me. I ran aft, and got out of his way; and when the boat canted a little it tipped him over.” “Served him right,” said the captain. “Don’t you give him the dollar. The money was for you, and not for him.” “You take that boy’s part against me, Capt. Trustleton, and ’tain’t right to do so.” “Yes, it is right, when you treat him worse than a pig. I wonder now that he didn’t keep your money when he got it into his fist. He could have run the boat ashore as soon as he got the wallet, and taken the next train for New York. It is very strange to me that he didn’t do it, if you use him in this way.”