"And yer brother be fifteen on the same day, you bein' twins."
"Yep, Pappy Lon."
"Yer brother's been taken into my trade," proceeded the squatter, "and it ain't the wust in the world—that of takin' what ye want from them that have plenty. It's time for ye to be doin' somethin', too. Ye'll go to Lem's Scow, Flea."
"To Lem's scow?" exclaimed Flea. "That ain't no place for a kid, and nobody ain't a wantin' me, nuther! I know there ain't!"
"Ain't there nobody a wantin' her in yer scow, Lem Crabbe?" grinned Lon.
"Ye bet there be!" answered Lem, with an evil leer.
Flukey, who had approached the group, placed himself closer to his sister. "Who—who be wantin' Flea, Lem Crabbe?" he demanded.
"It's me, it's me!" replied Lem, wheeling savagely about.
