"Got it all planned out, haven't you?" said Cloudman.
Rex made a gesture to quiet Applejack, and said:
"I have an idea you don't care to stir up any inquiry at the port. Am I right? Let's settle this between ourselves—right in the bosom of the family, as it were. What do you say?"
"Shoot!" said Pence. "Let's have your idea."
"We give up the canoes. You let us land and set up our camp, and let us alone. Is it understood?" asked Rex with more seriousness.
The expressions on the faces of the fat fellow, Ben, and Kirby showed relief. Horace Pence said:
"It's a bargain. The island's big enough."
"All agreed?" drawled Rex.
"I think we are," Kirby said.
"Sure!" chimed in Ben and Pudge MacComber. Yet the former murmured: "There's something up his sleeve. There must be!" Pudge looked doubtful, too. Joe Bootleg scowled in the background, saying nothing.