“Then you’d better start now,” said Mr. Carter. “There isn’t any in this village, and the nearest one is twenty miles away. We don’t have much use for lawyers down here.”
“I’ll go right away!” cried Noddy. “I’ll have my rights, I tell you!”
“Maybe your acquaintances will take you to a lawyer,” went on Mr. Carter, who seemed anxious to bring Noddy to his senses. “Any one will tell you that you have been swindled.”
“I’ll go alone and find some one to take up my case,” exclaimed the Cresville youth. “I don’t want any help from Jerry Hopkins or any of his gang, either.”
“We’re not a gang!” objected Bob. “If you say that again, Noddy Nixon, I’ll--”
“Go easy,” whispered Jerry to his chum. “Let him alone.”
“You’ll suffer for this!” ejaculated Noddy, glowering at Mr. Carter. “I’ll have the law on you! My father is a rich man and he’ll help me get my rights. I’ll have you arrested for stealing my cocoanut grove!”
“There! You’ve said enough!” responded the man. “I’ll not take any more of your insults! You’re on my land and I order you off. What’s more, if you threaten me again I’ll tie you up and take you before a justice of the peace! Now move on!”
Mr. Carter looked so angry, and so much in earnest, that, big bully as he was, Noddy was frightened. He muttered something below his breath but he moved off Mr. Carter’s land, and on to the edge of the swamp which constituted the “cocoanut grove” of which he had boasted.
“Come on, boys,” said Jerry in a low voice. “If we stay here we may get involved in some trouble with Noddy. He doesn’t want our aid, and I’m glad of it. I’d hate to take him into our boat. Let’s leave him alone.”
“I’ll fix you for following me!” exclaimed Noddy as he saw the three chums leaving him. “I’ll get even with you!”
“I hope he comes to his senses soon,” remarked Mr. Carter, as he walked toward the village with the three chums. “He is very hot tempered. He arrived in town a few days ago and created quite a stir by talking about the big cocoanut grove he had come to claim. When he found out that it was only a swamp that the swindlers had worked off on him he wanted to get my land, saying a mistake had been made. For several days he’s been seeking to lay claim to my grove, one of the few near here, until I got tired of his foolishness. Do you know much about him?”