The Willoughby Captains Part 75

Silk laughed.

"Thank you. I'll take my time, not yours. Which way are you going?"

"No way at all," said Gilks, standing still.

"Very well. I'm going this way. Come with me."

And he began to walk on, Gilks sullenly following.

"You saw Wyndham the other day?" said Silk.

"Suppose I did?"

"What did he want?"

"I don't know--some foolery or other. I didn't listen to him."

"You needn't tell lies. What did he want, I say?"

"How should I know?" retorted Gilks.

"What did he want? do you hear?" repeated the other.

"He wanted me to let him blab about something--about Beamish's it was."

"And did you tell him he might?"

"Yes. I said he might blab about me too for all I cared. And so he may. I wish to goodness he would."

"And whatever business had you to tell him he might say a word about it?" demanded Silk, angrily.

"What business? A good deal more business than you've got to ask me questions."

"Do you know what he's done?"

"No, I don't; and I don't care."

"Don't you care?" snarled Silk, fast losing his temper; "that foolery of yours has spoiled everything."

"So much the better. _I_ don't care."

"But _I_ care!" exclaimed Silk, furiously, "and I'll see you care too, you fool!"

"What's happened, then?" asked Gilks.

"Why, Riddell--"

"For goodness' sake don't start on him!" cried Gilks, viciously; "he's nothing to do with it."

"Hasn't he? That's all you know, you blockhead! He suspected Wyndham of that boat-race business. I can't make out how, but he did. And the young fool all along thought it was Beamish's he was in a row about.

But Riddell wouldn't have known it to this day if you hadn't given the young idiot leave to go and blab, and so clear it up."

"Let him blab. I wish he'd clear up everything," growled, or rather groaned, Gilks.

"Look here!" said Silk, stopping short in his walk and rounding on his victim. "I've had quite enough of this, and you'd better shut up. You know I could make you sorry for it if I chose."

Gilks said nothing, but walked on sullenly.

"And the worse thing about it," continued Silk, "is that now Wyndham and Riddell are as thick as brothers, and the young toady's sure to tell him everything."

"And suppose he does?"

"There's no suppose about it. I don't choose to have it, I tell you."

"How can you help it?" said Gilks.

"We must get hold of the young 'un again," said Silk, "and you'll have to manage it."

"Who?--I?" said Gilks, with a bitter laugh.

"Yes, you. And don't talk so loud, do you hear? You'll have to manage it, and I think I can put you up to a way for getting hold of him."

"You can spare yourself the trouble," said Gilks, stopping short and folding his arms doggedly. "I won't do it."

"What!" cried Silk, in a pa.s.sion.

It was the second time in one week that Silk had been thus defied--each time by a boy whom he had imagined to be completely in his power.

Wyndham's mutiny had not wholly surprised him, but from Gilks he had never expected it.

"I won't do it, there!" said Gilks, now fairly at bay and determined enough.

Silk glared at him for a moment, then laughed scornfully.

"You won't? You know what you are saying?"

"Yes, I know," said Gilks.

"And you know what I shall do?"

"Yes, you'll tell--"

Silk's face fell. He was beginning to discover that once more he had overdone his part, and that the ground was taken from under him. But he made one last effort to recover himself.

"I say, Gilks," said he, half coaxing, half warning, "don't be a fool.

Don't ruin yourself. I didn't mean to be offensive. You know it's as much in your interest as mine. If we can get hold of young Wyndham again--"

"If you want him, get him yourself, I'm not going to do it," once more said Gilks, with pale face and clenched teeth.