"No, you'll stay until we get to the high banks."
"What fer?"
"Davis did us a favor this morning, and I want to give him a chance for a fair start. If you would tell me his business——"
"Ain't telling anything."
"All right. Take the wheel, captain. We're off."
The Cormorant backed out of the thicket of mangrove branches which held her against the point, straightened out and started upstream.
"A little explanation and maybe we could be friends," suggested Payne.
"We're much obliged——" began the captain, and the scarred man interrupted with:
"But we ain't explainin'."
"Cheer up, boys!" laughed Higgins. "We're doing you a favor, you know."