"Now look here, boys!" interrupted the aged man, sternly. "I don't want to be harsh toward you, but you must get away from here. I said nothing when you followed me, not thinking you would land on my property. This is private land, and there has been a 'no trespass' sign up, but it has fallen down. I will put it up again. I want no strangers around here.
"My neighbors around me know this, and do not bother me. It is probably because you are strangers that you have come here. Now I will not have it. Later on I may be glad to see you, but now I must ask you to leave!"
He stood looking at the boys sternly. They had been ordered away, and there was nothing for them to do but to obey.
CHAPTER IX IN THE BOAT
"Well, we didn't find out anything."
"No, we had all our trouble for our pains."
"But we know where he lives—that's something we didn't know before."
This last was said by Sammy Brown. His two chums, Bob and Frank, had made the other remarks. The boys were rowing toward Barnacle Cottage, having been practically driven away from the place to which they had trailed the strange old man. His manner had been severe and stern, yet the boys knew he had right and justice on his side.