Thereupon the boys related the particulars of all that had taken place, the old lumberman listening closely to the recital. At the end, he shut his teeth and shook his head grimly.
"The rascals!" he ejaculated. "If it hadn't been for you, they would most likely have ransacked both of the cabins, and maybe, if they had gotten hold of my extra gun or my pistol, taken possession and made me keep away."
"Oh, they would have taken possession all right enough!" cried Jack. "But if the island is really yours, Uncle Barney, I don't see why you couldn't have had them arrested for anything like that."
"I told you before—I have no use for lawyers or law courts," grumbled the old lumberman. "All I want to do is to stay here and not be disturbed. I've got my deeds, and that's enough."
"Are you sure they are in a safe place?" questioned Jack. "I mean, some place where those rascals can't get at them?"
"I've got 'em in a tin box, and put away safe enough."
"I hope you haven't got them hidden around one of the cabins," said Fred. "They'd be sure to find them if they came here some time when you were away, and made a search."
"I haven't got 'em in or near either of the cabins. I've got 'em in a better place than that," was the cunning reply.
"You really ought to have them recorded, Uncle Barney; and then maybe it wouldn't be a bad scheme to put them in a safe deposit box in a bank," said Jack.
"Oh, they're safe enough—don't you fear!" answered the old man. It was plainly to be seen that he was bound to have his own way in everything he did.