“Oh, they are going to lock us up!” screamed Paxton. Then he gave a closer look at who was before him. “Why, it’s Andy Snow!” he gasped.
“Andy Snow and, yes, Pepper Ditmore!” said Reff Ritter, and his voice showed how disgusted he felt over being deceived.
“That’s only a dipper!” came from Coulter. “Think you are great to scare us, don’t you?” he sneered.
“You get off of this sloop, and in a hurry, too!” cried Pepper. “If you don’t we’ll give you the thrashing of your lives.”
“Thrashing, eh?” demanded Reff Ritter, throwing back his black hood. “Perhaps two can play at that game.”
“That’s right—and the two will be Pepper and myself,” put in Andy. “Leave this sloop at once, or take the consequences.”
“How many of you on board?” asked Coulter, trying to look into the cuddy.
“None of your business.”
“I believe they are alone,” said Ritter. “And if so we are three to two. What’s the matter with capturing ’em?” he added, struck by a sudden idea.
“Capturing ’em?” repeated his cronies.