"Well, of course he can do that. We're trespassing. Goodness knows there are enough signs all around the island forbidding landing upon it," Harry Kirby said.
"Bosh!" sneered Horace Pence. "I know the law against trespassing. They've got to prove we've done some damage by landing here and setting up our tents."
"And building fires," put in Kirby.
"That's all right," agreed the leader, quite unruffled. "We've only built one fire, and it is properly guarded. I saw to that. And Joe knows the fire law, you bet. Don't you fellows fret; I know what I am about."
"You seem to," admitted Harry Kirby admiringly. "I never knew a fellow like you, Horrors. You are always just skirting the edge of trouble, but never get into it."
"He'll get into it now, all right-o," grumbled Ben Comas. "We know well enough that there's a party did get a permit to camp here this summer; that's why my father couldn't work it for us—and he owns some stock in the Manatee Company, too."
"We heard about that before," said Kirby. "Is it true or just one of your false alarms?"
"That's no false alarm," defended Ben, vigorously. "It's straight. A bunch from that prep. school out Scarsdale way, with this Rex Kingdon at their head, got permission to come here, and the company wouldn't allow two camps on Storm Island."
"What prep. school's that?" demanded Kirby.
It was Horace Pence that made answer, to the surprise of his companions. "Walcott Hall," he said briefly.