“Of course, we know what they’ll do if they catch us,” said another voice. “But you’ll never have a chance to inform on us. It was only by accident that you ever heard us in the basement of the lodge, and even then, if you had been sensible enough not to investigate, you would now be safe with your friends. As it is, you’re in a pretty bad fix.”
“I’ll appeal to Mr. Lawrence when he returns.”
“Well, what do you think he’ll do? Don’t you suppose he’s as heavily involved in this business as we?”
“He’s involved more than we,” growled another voice.
“Well you fellows see that the kid doesn’t get to the speaking tube again. His friends are probably asleep, but because they didn’t hear his first cry is no sign another wouldn’t wake them. We’ve got trouble enough without ever letting them know this island is inhabited.”
“I don’t see what the boss ever let the kids stay in the lodge for in the first place. He’s always taking desperate chances,” said one of the others.
“Well, he’s never been caught yet.”
“No; but he will be,” came in the tones of Bert.
Then the voices moved out of range and all was still. Quickly Chot repeated to the other boys what he had heard.
“Bert’s cry,” he said, “must have come through the tube. No wonder it sounded distant.”