But the killer raised a hand in my protection.
“Do you happen to know,” he inquired of the gang’s leader, “if this boy’s companions are on the island?”
“Sure thing,” Bid blurted out. “We saw ’em.”
The killer’s eyes snapped at this information. Gone was the purring smile now. I shivered in the sudden change in the man. For I read his evil mind. He was going to get Scoop.
“I have important business elsewhere on the island,” he told Bid quickly, “and I am going to ask you to stay here and guard this boy until I return. However, much as you would like to do so, I caution you not to lay hands on him to mistreat him. For he is my prisoner. Understand?… I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Bid was on fire with curiosity.
“Who is he, Jerry?” he quizzed, when the killer had passed quickly from the cave.
I didn’t say anything.
“We can make you talk,” Jimmy Stricker put in.
“Seven to one,” I sneered.