"I've a good mind to have you arrested!" "Mr.Poole, why should I fire at you ?" asked Dave.

"I----" "Oh, you needn't try to smooth it over, you young rascal! I know you! You are down on me because I made Caspar Potts pay me what was due, and you are down on my son Nat because he is more popular at Oak Hall than anybody else." "Well, to hear that!" whispered Phil.

He knew, as well as did the others, that overbearing Nat Poole had scarcely a friend left at the school the lads attended.

On several occasions Nat had tried to harm Dave, but each time he had gotten the worst of it.
"I didn't fire at you--didn't know anybody was on the back road," protested Dave.

"If a bullet went through your buggy top I am sorry for it, but I am also glad it didn't go through your head." And Dave had to shudder as he thought of what might have happened.