“Didn’t we promise that we would help you square yards with those fellows?” said he, addressing himself to Lester. “I wouldn’t like to be in their boots if they find that gun; would you, Jones?”
“No, indeed,” was the quick reply. “Barr is just on the point of boiling over already, and he won’t stand much more interference with his business.”
“What do you think he would do to Egan if he and his crowd should find that big gun and take possession of it?” asked Lester.
“O, Egan would not dare do that,” answered Jones. “He has no more right to touch that big gun than he has to take charge of this schooner. The most he could do would be to tell an officer where the gun was hidden, and if he did that, Barr would improve the very first opportunity he got to destroy some property for him or his father.”
“But how would that help me square yards with Don and Bert?” inquired Lester. “I don’t like Egan, because he is Don’s friend; but still I don’t care to see him injured.”
“Well, I do,” said Enoch, spitefully. “I haven’t forgotten how squarely he went back on me during my first day at the academy. There I was, a stranger in a strange place, and he wouldn’t introduce me to a single student; and when he walked off toward the gate with some of his chums, he told me to stay behind because he did not want me along. Do you think I shall ever forget that? Not much.”
“It seems that Barr has got his big gun back again,” said Jones. “I mean the one the detectives found on information furnished them by Gus Egan.”
“I am not at all surprised to hear it,” replied Enoch. “You see,” he added, turning to Lester, “this man Simpson, of whom Barr spoke, is a local detective, who has long been suspected of being in sympathy with the big-gunners; and you know Barr hinted that it was through him that he got his big gun back. The detectives often play into one another’s hands, and I believe that for a hundred dollars Simpson could be bribed to do almost anything. Look there, Brigham! Did you ever see such a sight before?”
Up to this time the Firefly had been kept behind the island, so that her approach would not be detected by the boys whom Enoch intended to watch; but now she was obliged to stand out into the bay, and, as she rounded the headland, Enoch caught sight of the flock of canvas-backs which old Eph’s dog was tolling in toward the beach.
“No, I never saw so many ducks in one flock before,” replied Lester, as soon as he had somewhat recovered from his surprise. “Why, Diamond Lake would hardly hold them. Don’t those look like heads over there in the grass?” he added, directing Enoch’s attention toward the cove where the young wild fowlers were concealed.