“In debt to us,” muttered Jack. “Now awhat did he mean by that?”
“He meant,” said Hal, when Jack repeated the remark, “that he owed me for the things he stole out of my boat. What else could he mean?”
“He might have meant,” replied Bee thoughtfully, “that he had a grudge against us. If he has I hope he’ll forget to pay us back.”
“I don’t believe it was that,” Jack doubted. “He seemed quite friendly. He wouldn’t have brought the clams unless he meant well, I guess.”
“They’re probably poisoned,” said Hal promptly. “You don’t catch me eating any of them!”
“Oh, don’t be a silly goat,” begged Bee. “What would he want to poison us for? Besides how the dickens could anyone put poison in a clam? Look at them; they’re closed as tight as a—a drum.”
“I wouldn’t trust him, though,” responded Hal, unconvinced. “A man who will steal will do anything.”
“Poppycock! You’ve got an overwrought imagination, whatever that is. You ought to write detective stories, Hal. ‘The Poisoned Clams, or the Pirate’s Revenge!’ How’s that for a corking title?”