Another war of words followed, and the discussion grew even hotter than before. Again Mr. Brown threatened all sorts of things, but Uncle Barney simply laughed at him. Then Frederic Stevenson took a hand.
"Uncle Barney," he said, catching the old man by the shoulder, "you let me manage this for you, will you?"
"All right, Fred. You do as you please—only they can't have Snowshoe Island," was the old man's answer. Evidently the long standing differences between the pair had been patched up at last.
"What I've got to say, I can say in very few words," came from Ruth's father, as he confronted Mr. Brown and Professor Lemm. "You have tried to carry matters here with a high hand, and the result has been that you have laid yourselves liable to a suit at law, while those two young rascals are liable to go to prison."
"Oh, Dad! don't let them have us arrested!" pleaded Slugger.
"I don't want to bother with the law—I want to be left alone," said Uncle Barney in a low voice.
"This island belongs to my relative here—Mr. Barnard Stevenson," proceeded Ruth's father. "He has a free and clear title to it, as I well know. I understand something of your underhanded work, Brown. And I understand, too, how you and Professor Lemm found out that this island contained some very valuable zinc ore beds. But your scheme to gain possession of this place has fallen through."
"Don't be so sure of that!" snarled Slugger's father.
"I am sure of it. Unless you leave my relative here alone, you are going to get yourself into pretty hot water. And not only that—if you bother him again, I'll see to it that your son and that other young man are sent to prison for what they have done."
"Say! will you let us go if my dad gives up his claim to the island?" broke in Slugger eagerly.