"That's a good one on Billy who is all the time getting off jokes on other folks," said Percival. "That is too good to keep."
"Dick Percival," said Billy, laughing in spite of himself, "if you say a word about it I'll cut you dead."
"I can't help it," chuckled Dick; "it's too good to keep, and I won't keep it, no matter what are the consequences. Think of a boy who has spent the biggest part of his life in the country not knowing the difference between a little three months' old heifer calf and a wild bull. Billy, my boy, you have neglected your opportunities."
Billy got down from the tree, and all hands laughed again, but Jack said thoughtfully:
"That was not a wild calf, and the question naturally arises, what is a domesticated calf doing on a supposedly uninhabited island? If there is a calf there must be a cow and if a cow, then people who own and take care of her. There must be people on the island after all, although we have never seen them."
"We have not been all over the island," said Percival, "and it is likely that in the very parts where we have not been we shall find the people who own the calf."
"They are probably negroes or halfbreeds," added Jack, "and seldom visit the shore. Suppose we keep on. We may find a village, or, at any rate, one or two houses occupied by them. Come on, Billy, you are safer with us in case we come across another wild bull."
"Get out!" said Billy, half laughing, half in disgust. "How much will you take to keep quiet on that subject?"
"I could not think of making a bargain, Billy," chuckled Jack, "and then I am afraid it would cost you too much. Remember, there are myself and Dick, Jesse W. Smith, Bucephalus Johnson and Ben Bowline to be bought off, and the prices might go up."
"All right," muttered Billy with a wry face, "but don't rub it in too much, that's all."