“There’s nothing else to do. I wouldn’t want to take any chances with the moon,” said Prim. “We have troubles enough now without losing our minds.”
Terry laughed. “I guess you’re right. We’ll need all our wits to get ourselves out of this jam, and we’d better not get them addled.”
Terry’s laugh had relieved their taut nerves.
“If I could only be sure that Allan and Syd were safe, I could even take this disappointment and get some fun out of the situation. I’m really not frightened of Joe Arnold,—very much!” she exclaimed.
If Terry could have heard the conversation between Joe Arnold and Bud Hyslop at that moment she might have feared them, for Bud had just asked, “What are you going to do with those girls? One thing sure they’ll never leave this island alive, if I have my way.”
Joe Arnold turned on him with an angry snarl. “You haven’t a word to say here! What’s more you never will have. Just wait until you get your orders from me. I’ll see that they don’t get back to civilization for a long time, perhaps never, but I’ll settle with them in my own way and when I get ready. I want no suggestions from you or anybody. You understand? I’m boss here on this island!”
“Yes, that’s what I meant,” replied Bud Hyslop.
“And if they come into this camp just keep your eye on them. Especially Terry! She was here about two minutes and was nosing about the big rock as if she knew I had things hidden there,” snarled Joe Arnold.
“Did she see anything?” asked Bud.
“No, I got her away in time, but if she comes back she is apt to go right there. And if she’d ever get hold of those papers, we wouldn’t be safe anywhere.”