But knowing the absolute necessity for obtaining a grip on the Marlin, the boy plunged forward, regardless of the fact that in so doing he had to advance toward the enemy.

His aggressive movement rather puzzled the other, until he saw the gun leaning there against the bank.  Then he gave a howl, and also projected his bulk forward, evidently with the expectation of reaching the firearm first.

But he was just three seconds too late.

Thad snatched the weapon up, and drawing back both hammers, held it in a threatening attitude.

“Keep back, there, or I’ll do the same to you I did to your dog!” cried the excited but resolute boy.

The fellow saw something in the attitude of the lad to give him cause for prudence; and he immediately drew up, throwing out both hands in a sudden spasm of alarm.

“Hi! hold on thar, sonny, don’t ye pull them triggers hard!  It’d be jest murder, ’cause I ain’t got nary weepon by me, I swar.  I didn’t go ter mean any thin’ hard.  Corse ye done right ter shoot the ornery dawg if he war atryin’ ter eat yer pard up.  Yuh see I didn’t know ther hull facts in ther case, I didn’t.  Let up easy, now, bub; drap thet gun, won’t yer?” he whined.

“Don’t do it, Thad!” shouted Maurice, dancing about on the deck of the flat in his excitement; “don’t you trust him an inch, I tell you!  Make him vamoose the ranch—­tell him to clear out, or you’ll pepper his hide.”

But Thad needed no such entreaty on the part of his chum to know only too well that not the slightest reliance could be placed on the honor of such a rough customer.

He continued to cover the man.

“If you take one step this way I’ll let fly!” he said, impressively.

“But I ain’t holdin’ no grudge agin you-uns now ’bout thet dawg.  Reckons it’s better the critter’s got his, ’cause the missus sez as how he acted like he wos agwine mad,” expostulated the man; but there was a gleam in his eyes that Thad did not like, and he would not take chances.

“All right, if that’s the case; but all the same you threatened me, and I’m not going to trust you close.  Just back up along the beach, and if you make the first move to do anything I’m going to shoot.  Now, twenty-three for yours, mister, skidoo!  We don’t want your company; not today,” said Thad.

The man looked at him.  He must have seen something in the determined manner of the lad to influence him in reaching a decision.  That boy would keep his word; he was ready to shoot if crossed; and the way in which he had killed the brute of a dog proved his skill with the gun he was fondling now.

“Oh! all right, bub, I’ll clear out, if yuh sez so; but if I ever get a chanct tuh even up this hyer score I’m gwine tuh do hit, sure’s yer born!”

He moved away, muttering, and looking angrily toward the lad; but not once did the latter show signs of weakening.

When the big fellow had vanished from sight, Thad hastened to draw the dinghy, which Maurice had hastily emptied, back to the beach.