"Our friend the pasty-faced gentleman evidently resents our presence," he remarked with a laugh. "Apparently he thinks he can smoke us out. He won't." "Dirty trick," commented Peter. "But it won't affect us," added Carline. "'There's not much smoke coming into the cabin. Besides, we've nearly finished tea." Having completed the repast and cleared away, Mr. Clifton suggested a spell ashore. "We'll give Rex a run," he added. "And I'll call at the post office in case there are any letters sent on for me." The crew went ashore. On the bank were several people interested in the yacht and the now diminishing smoke-screen. "Measly old gent that, sir," remarked one jerking his thumb in the direction of the cantankerous owner of the river-side property. "'Think 'e owns all Ravensholm 'e do. Drat'n; if 'e wur to fall in river this very minute I for one wouldn't fish 'im out." The other onlookers supported this sentiment. Evidently Mr. Horatio Snodburry, the obnoxious individual under discussion, was far from being popular with his fellow-townsfolk. At the post office, Mr. Clifton was handed three letters and a newspaper. These he thrust into his pocket for future perusal. Then by a circuitous route, including a visit to Mr. Thorley's farm for milk, the crew of the _Thetis_ returned to the yacht. There was still a knot of sightseers, dividing their attention between the strange craft and the vindictive old fellow across the river, who was still staring at the little yacht as if to mesmerise her out of existence. "Excuse me, sir," courteously exclaimed a well-dressed individual standing on the bank. "Might I have a word with you?" "Certainly," replied Mr. Clifton. "Come on board." The gentleman accepted the invitation. "My name is Brightwell," he announced. "I don't suppose that will interest you. What is more to the point is that I am a solicitor acting on behalf of Mr. Horatio Snodburry." The skipper grinned cheerfully. "Carry on, please," he said encouragingly. "To be brief my client wants you to shift your berth lower down the river." "Does he own the river?" "Oh, no. But, you see, you are rather obstructing his view." "Precisely," agreed Mr. Clifton dryly. "This, being a tidal river, is, I take it, under Admiralty jurisdiction. 'As far as the tide shall flow' is the proper phraseology. And I think you, as a legal man, will admit that no individual can possess or claim the sole right to a view." "That is so," admitted Mr. Brightwell. "The law does not admit of such a thing, as a 'prescriptive right of view'. But my client insisted that I should press his claim, although I told him he hadn't a leg to stand on. Without people of that type," he added in a burst of confidence, "the legal profession would be very, very slack."