"We're just waiting for some of our friends to come back," Hal replied.
"Where'd your friends go?" continued the spokesman with a leer that caused the two boys to shrink back a step or two.
"They just took a trip in the motor boat," replied Hal cautiously.
"They'll be back soon."
"Oh, they will, eh," leered the man as if he penetrated the weakness of the warning in the boy's answer. "How many are they of your friends?"
"More than we are," replied Hal, having reference to physical size of Mr.
Perry and Cub.
"Oh, come now, kids, tell us the truth," ordered the leering spokesman, advancing a pace nearer. "Tell us how many went away in your boat and how soon they'll be back."
"There was a large man and a big boy," Bud interposed with more assurance that he felt.
Sly grins crept over the countenances of the four men.
"Oh," grunted the spokesman; "you hope by that kind o' talk to scare us away. Well, nothin' doing along that line. This here island belongs to us, and we don't allow no trespassin."
"Is the island for sale?" inquired Hal, who thought he saw an opening through which he might work up the interest of the three men without arousing their antagonism.