But the man didn’t show the slightest intention of even moving his rifle from the ready, much less of letting the boys go.
“Of course you’ll go looking again,” he said. “Looking for what you were looking for yesterday and today. Oh, no! I hardly think I can let you go!” Then he smiled his peculiar smile again. “What’s more,” he added, “even if I were to let you go, I would first have to ask you to return the money you stole—the money I see sticking out of your pocket!”
Sandy’s heart sank. There was nothing he could think of to say now, and he could see no way out of the situation. He sank wearily to a seat in the cockpit and sighed.
“I guess we can both stop play-acting about this trespassing thing,” he said. He pulled the telltale bill out of his pocket and threw it on the deck. “This is what you’ve been so upset about all along, isn’t it?”
“You’re a very bright boy,” the man with the gun said. “Far too bright, I’m afraid. You have this whole thing figured out already, haven’t you?”
“Most of it,” Sandy admitted. “At least the parts that count. You’re using this island to make counterfeit money, and you’re using this sailboat to take it somewhere. That’s about all I know, but it’s enough to get you in trouble, isn’t it, Mr.—?”
“Jones is the name,” the man said. “Yes, I would say it was quite enough. The only mistake you’ve made is your conclusion. What you know is enough to get you in trouble—not me. In fact, I should hate to be in as much trouble as you two boys are in right now!” Jones put down his rifle for a moment and said, “Do you mind if I come on board my boat so that we can discuss your difficulties in more comfort?”
Jones stepped out of the dinghy to the deck of the little sloop and settled himself comfortably in the stern seat while his two silent crewmen kept Sandy covered. When he was set, with his ever-present rifle held at ready across his knees, he was followed on board by the larger and meaner looking of the two sailors, who stationed himself beside Jones.
“Oh, yes,” Jones repeated, “I should say that what you know is quite enough! And, since you already have too much information to ever let you leave here with, I’ll be happy to satisfy your immense curiosity by giving you a little more. But why not have your friend join us on deck?”
When Jerry had come up from the cabin and was sitting beside Sandy, Jones cleared his throat, as if he were about to give a formal speech.