“He is not impudent,” said Dick.  “Your machines are all right—­we didn’t hurt them in the least.  But I can tell you one thing,” he proceeded earnestly.  “We don’t propose to pay for the hire of the chauffeurs.”

“That’s the talk,” broke in Fred.  “Pay him for the use of the cars only.”

“You’ll pay the whole bill!” growled the automobile owner.

“Not a cent more than the hire of the two cars,” said Tom

The man began to storm, and threatened to have them locked up for running the cars without a license.  But in the end he accepted the money Dick offered him.

“Maybe you haven’t heard the end of this,” he muttered.

“If you make trouble, perhaps I’ll do the same,” answered Dick, and then he and the others went aboard the yacht, where a late supper awaited them.  Mr. Rover had heard of the unreliable chauffeurs and he was even more indignant than his sons.

“I don’t think that owner will show himself again,” he said.  “If he does I’ll take care of him.”  The man was never heard of; and that ended the affair.

“We had a splendid time anyway,” declared Grace, and the other girls agreed with her.

Tom had not forgotten about his fireworks, and after supper he invited the crowd to the deck and gave them quite an exhibition.

“Here, Hans, you can set off this Roman candle,” he said, presently.  “Show the ladies how nicely you can do it.  But take off your coat and roll up your shirt sleeve before you begin,” he added, with a dig into Sam’s ribs, which meant, “watch for fun.”

Quite innocently the German lad took off his coat and rolled his shirt sleeve up over his elbow.  Then he took the big Roman candle and lit it.

“Now swing it around lively,” cried Tom, and Hans began to describe little circles with the Roman candle.  Soon the sparks began to pour forth, and not a few came down on the bare wrist and forearm.

“Ouch! ouch!” yelled Hans, dancing around.  “Ach du meine zeit!  Say, somepody sthop dot!  I vos purn mineselluf ub alretty!”

“Swing it around quicker!” cried Dick.

“Turn it in the shape of a figure eight!” suggested Fred.

“Loop the loop with it,” came from Sam.

Around and around went the Roman candle and then bang! out shot a ball, hitting one of the masts of the steam yacht.  Then bang! went another ball, hitting the top of the cabin.

“Hold it up straighter, Hans!” said Songbird.  “Don’t shoot somebody.”

“If I hold him ub I burn mineselluf worser!” groaned the German youth.  “Here, you dake him, Sam, I got enough.”

“No, no, Hans, I won’t deprive you of the pleasure of shooting it off,” answered the youngest Rover, and skipped out of the way.

One after another the balls, red, white and blue, poured from the Roman candle.  It was a pretty sight, but Hans’ aim was more than bad, and one hit the bow and another the stern, while a third whizzed past Dick’s ear.  In the meantime Hans was hopping around like a madman, trying to keep the sparks from his skin.