"There's something stirring up the little chaps," he said.
"They're always wigglin' like a basket of snakes," Jimmie observed.
"Sounds like they were calling the police," Frank put in.
"I'll tell you about it when I return," Jack said. "If there's anything grand, gloomy or peculiar over there I'll be sure to find it. Want to go along with me, little boy?" he added, turning to Jimmie, who at once resented this manner of address by trying to push Jack overboard.
"Of course I'm goin'," Jimmie declared, giving over his benevolent intentions with regard to Jack. "I reckon you'll get lost if you go six yards away from the Manhattan alone."
"Run along, both of you!" Ned said. "And don't get into trouble. We've got no time to waste looking up runaway boys."
"If the native tribes are holding a convention there," Frank said, as the boys slipped into the boat which they were to row ashore, "just give them my compliments and ask them to dinner."
For some moments after the boys reached the white beach and disappeared in the jungle Ned stood scanning the island with his glass.
"I half believe the chiefs are there," he said, turning to Frank.
"Then why did you let the boys go?" asked the latter.