"You are not known here?"
"No."
"Then go back." The Mexican pointed toward the path whence they had come.
"Go back where you came from—and quickly."
"No," said Payne slowly, "that doesn't suit our program. We're going that way." He pointed across the clearing toward the blue water of the lake.
"Call your boss, greaser," snapped Higgins. "Let's talk to him." He raised his voice to a shrieking falsetto. "Help, help!"
Payne looked toward the boat landing instinctively.
The girl of the dawn on Gumbo Key was coming toward them, laughing; and the trees and the vine flowers and the sun all seemed to laugh with her.
"Oh, it's you, is it?" she said. "And the red-haired man, too!"
"Auburn!" protested Higgins, baring his fiery poll. "The best barbers of the West have told me it's auburn."