They listened and discovered they were whites, but not feeling free to make known their presence until they ascertained whether they were friends or foes, or whether they were going to land on the island or not, they took their weapons and climbed up a large tree that stood in the center of the island and concealed themselves among the thick boughs where they could command a view of the canoe and its occupants.
The canoe landed in a few moments, and then came an exclamation:
“Hullo, boys! here’s a canoe, and what if sum ’un is onter the island?”
“Heavens!” exclaimed another, in a tone of fear, “s’pose you go look ’round an’ see.”
“S’pose you go to the devil, Phil Graball!” replied the first speaker; “do you think thet Eebenezer Frogfoot’s goin’ to be a fool and venter out thar alone and git my carcass riddled with bullets? No, sir-ee, you can’t come thet game.”
“Ye would if ye wer’n’t a coward,” returned Graball.
“Humph! I’ll bet all the gold in the—the hills thet you’re afeard ter walk ’round this ’ere island onc’t,” said the important Ebenezer Frogfoot.
“Ay, now,” whispered Flick O’Flynn, “they’re robbers as mees is a born Irishman.”
“And cowards, too,” added Walter.
“Yes, but keep still; they may do or say something to our benefit,” said Frank.