"De old man he 'lowed he ain't no bank on wheels, and Mr. Peth he say back he don't care whar de money come f'om, he's gwine have it, en he slash up wid a gun en say to come along, en come quick. Then the others come out o' de woods, lookin' mighty mad, en I says to mahse'f, 'Doc Bird, this ain't no place for you to be circulatin' 'round, not if yo' wants fo' to die of old age,' so I jump fo' de boat."
"So it's a hold-up," said Locke, looking at Trask.
"You've got it," said Trask. "They set out to get gold, and can't find it. Now they think we'll pay them a good price to get out."
"We'll get out without any help from them," said Locke.
"You better not go pullin' up no anchors in this pocket," advised Doc, as he saw Locke look over the bows speculatively. "Yo' all would go smack on that yer reef, the way the tide's got a set."
"How much do they want?" asked Marjorie, who was more amused than worried at the way things had turned out.
"You'll have to ask Mr. Peth," said Doc.
"You get in the boat and go back ashore and get Dinshaw," said Trask. "If you see any of the crew, simply say we'll take the matter of paying them extra under advisement when we know what their idea is."
"Mr. Trask," said Doc, solemnly, "I'll go back if you give me a gun. I ain't 'fraid of no man what stands on two laigs if I got shootin' things. But I ain't goin' back with my bar' hands, for Dinshaw nor the 'Postle Paul, no, suh!"
"Oh, you want a gun, eh?" said Trask. "I'll bet you couldn't hit the island from here with a gun."