"They're coming across to call to-night," said Lane.
"Not if we can get over there first. We'll go round in the sloop as soon as these hake are dressed and salted."
At four o'clock the last fish was slapped down on the rounded-up tub.
"Now we'll go," announced Jim. "Come on, everybody! You, too, Filippo! Might as well show up our full force. It may help stave off trouble."
"Aren't you going to take the gun?" Percy inquired.
"Gun? No! What'd we want of that? We don't intend to shoot anybody."
Twenty minutes after the Barracouta left Sprowl's Cove she was thudding into the Sly Hole. The sloop still lay at anchor in its center, but the dory was grounded on the beach. From the woods above, ax-strokes echoed faintly.
"Either cutting firewood or beginning on that camp," said Jim.
Presently the chopping ceased. Before long the two men appeared on the top of the bank, dragging a spruce trunk about twenty feet long. On seeing the Barracouta they halted in surprise, then dropped the tree and hurried down to their dory.
"Seem to be afraid we've been mousing round aboard their boat," muttered Spurling.