Jack, Pepper and Coulter remained in the kitchen.

Coulter sat staring at the fire, but occasionally his eyes wandered to Jack.
Suddenly, while the others were silent, he spoke.
"Say, but you're a fine fellow, Jack Ruddy!" he said.

"A fine fellow! And I'm a--a skunk! That's what I am, a low-down, mean skunk!" "Never mind now, Gus," answered Jack, kindly.

He hardly knew what to say at this outburst.
"You--you jumped in and saved me from drowning, didn't you ?" "Yes.

But anybody would do that, Gus, for a schoolmate." "No, they wouldn't; Reff Ritter wouldn't.