"What's on your mind, Rex?" asked Cloudman, his curiosity also aroused.
"Yes, what are you going to do, pitch in and help Enos clean up the bunch?" asked Red, hopefulness in his tone. "That would have my approval."
"I'll give you another guess," laughed Rex. "I've a plan that beats thrashing that crowd, much as they deserve it."
"Unfold it to us," urged Midkiff, still in doubt, "if it's anything sensible."
"Bide a wee," restrained Rex. "You've got to back me up. No balking."
"Confound it!" exclaimed Cloudman, "you haven't told us your scheme."
"No time to discuss it," said Kingdon. "You've got to take my plan on trust."
"Now I know it's something foolish," declared John Midkiff.
The nose of the catboat rubbed against the beach, and Rex was the first one ashore. "Follow your resourceful leader," he called, laughing over his shoulder at the gloomy face of Midkiff. "Bring a line ashore, Jawn, and moor the old girl. We don't want to lose her, now that we've just got the engine to working like a chawm."
Cool as ever, he led the way up the bank. For the last few moments the Walcott Hall boys had given no attention to what was being said or done on the island, but now they saw that Enos had stepped back a pace, and had his little black billy in his hand. He was threatening: