“Where is your own boat?” demanded Case. “Why do you have to steal ours. You aren’t river pirates, are you?”
“Never you mind what we are, sonny,” laughed the Englishman, “and never you mind about our boat. Perhaps, you know, we lost it on a reef at Cloud island!” he added, glancing keenly at Frank.
Frank dropped his eyes, showing either embarrassment or lack of courage, Case could not determine which. Once before, when Cloud island had been thoughtlessly brought into the conversation by the boy himself he had shown great confusion. There must be some mystery about Cloud island, was Case’s conclusion, some mystery of which the Englishman as well as the boy had knowledge!
Plainly the name of the island had been used to bring to the boy’s mind some unpleasant recollection, for it had not been necessary, in mentioning the loss of a boat, to refer to the island at all. Therefore, Case reasoned, the name meant something to the Englishman as well as to Frank, and the reference to it had been designed to warn or threaten the boy. He resolved to know more about Cloud island as soon as he found an opportunity to talk with Frank! In the meantime, he might be able to get something of a clue from the Englishman.
“What do you know about Cloud island?” he asked. “I don’t believe you’ve ever been there. You’re only river thieves!”
The Englishman, not at all angry at the epithet, glanced keenly at Frank, as if asking a question with his eyes, and the boy, who remained silent, studied the bearded face intently.
“I know enough about it, lad,” was the significant reply, made directly to Frank, although he had not spoken at all.
“Are you going there?” continued Case. “To Cloud island I mean?”
“What else do you think I’m being roasted and eaten alive by insects in this blawsted wilderness for?” asked the other.
“Then why don’t you move on and let us alone?” asked Case.