"A lot you could! Ask Joe, here, whether Rex Kingdon's got a hard fist."
The Indian lad's countenance denoted his feelings on this point. Although he did not speak, his expression was a threat that none of the others quite understood.
"Look here," insisted Pence argumentatively, "let's settle this. Why should we leave Storm Island?"
"For one reason," said Kirby, "because Kingdon can get us put off any time he feels like it."
"Will he feel like it?"
"Why won't he?" asked Ben Comas.
"He says," returned Pence, "that he likes to have us here to row with, and why shouldn't we accommodate him? He hasn't got so much the better of us. We've had just as much fun out of it as he and his crowd have."
"Quibb will be coming around again," prophesied Kirby.
"Don't you believe it. Kingdon has settled that. He'll keep away from Storm Island. We'll take Rex Kingdon at his word. He says he likes to fuss with us. Let's give him all the sport in that line he wants."
Joe Bootleg's gloomy face caught the attention of the black-eyed lad. "You going to stay here, Mr. Pence?" the Indian asked.