“But not to run wild over it. This here place is mine and I don’t want snoopers. Now get back to your own end of the island and stay there!”
“Sure, sure,” Brad said, signaling the Cubs to make no resistance. “We were leaving anyhow.”
“I don’t aim to be mean,” Jabowski said, mollified by the boy’s willingness to obey. “But a guy has to have some privacy. That raft upsetting last night set my nerves on edge. You the boy that dived under it?”
“No, that was Dan Carter.”
“Which one is he?” Jabowski’s keen gaze swept the group.
“Dan isn’t here,” Midge informed the caretaker.
“Well, no matter,” Jabowski said. “Git along now, and mind what I said. You keep to your end of the island and there’ll be no hard feelings. By the way, when you leaving?”
“For good you mean?” Brad asked. “Why, late this afternoon, I guess.”
“Then you won’t be camping here another night.” Unmistakable relief was stamped on the caretaker’s face. “Good-bye, boys.”
“Oh, you may see us again,” Brad said with mischievous intent. “Oh, say! Have you run into that tramp who annoyed us the first day we camped here?”