“I have invited him, and I won’t take back the invitation,” he said.
“How old are you?” asked Fletcher abruptly.
“Sixteen.”
“I should think you were sixty by the tone you assume,” said Fletcher with a sneer.
“Do I understand, Mr. Fletcher,” asked Harry steadily, “that you claim to control our party?”
“Seeing that I am more than twice as old as you are, I am the natural head of the expedition.”
“I cannot admit any such claim. If you are not satisfied to be simply a member of the party, like the rest of us, I shall not be offended if you back out even now.”
This, however, did not suit Fletcher, and with a forced laugh he answered, “You are a strange boy, Vane. I don’t want to back out, as you term it. I fancy we shall get along together.”
“I wish he had decided to leave us,” said Harry, when the two boys were alone. “Somehow I distrust him.”
“I don’t like him myself,” said Jack, “but I don’t see what harm he can do us.”