"Huh? I dunno what ye're sayin'," said Quibb suspiciously. "Le's see your letter from the Manatee Lumber Company."
The other fellows were by this time staring at Kingdon wonderingly. He did not produce the permit.
"Oh, we have it," the blond chap said, waving his hand. "Don't let it worry you, Mr. Constable."
"Ya-as. So ye say. An' I s'pose you'll tell me, too, that your name is Kingdon?"
"Why, yes, that does happen to be my name," said Rex. He stopped searching his pockets and stared at Enos Quibb with increasing interest. Quibb broke into a raucous laugh.
"There's a big fam'bly of you Kingdons, I reckon?" he rasped out. "Ain't you ashamed—lyin' like that? Your name ain't no more Kingdon than mine is Obediah Smoke! I'm ready for you city chaps, I be. And you git off this island. You ain't got no permit from the Manatee Company—and you ain't Kingdon and his party. Now, git!"
Kingdon laughed as though highly amused. But, aside from Peewee's echoing giggle, the remainder of the company seemed more vexed than amused.
"Aw, show him the letter, Rex, and put the poor thing out of his misery," Midkiff urged.
"He's too noisy for comfort, Kingdon," said Applejack. "Why torture him so?"
"I'm warnin' ye," Enos sputtered. "I was goin' over east to Collings Point on an errand, and I see your boat. I knowed only one party belonged here——"