"I'd hate to have your suspicious nature, Jawn," was the retort as Kingdon skillfully steered the Spoondrift shoreward.
"Hey! What are you doing with our canoes?" was the shouted greeting of the fellow whom Rex suspected was named Ben.
"Why, I declare! are these your boats?" drawled the blond chap. "Don't you think you were mighty careless with them?"
"Now you said a mouthful," barked the belligerent Kirby. "But we didn't know there were thieves about."
"No?"
"We hadn't seen anybody who looked dishonest before," said the good-looking, black-haired fellow they called Horrors, as Red Phillips let out the sheet at a gesture from Rex and the flapping sail came down on the run.
"What's the matter?" squealed little Hicks in reply to the last speech. "Did you all forget to bring your pocket mirrors?"
"You come ashore here, you little chipmunk," blustered Ben Comas, "and I'll show you something. It won't be in a looking-glass, either."
"Naughty! Naughty!" laughed Kingdon. "Don't threaten; it isn't nice. Drop the anchor again, Jawn. You fellows let me do a little of the talking, will you?"
"Aw, well——" began Hicks. But Cloudman reached for him and laid him carefully on his back.