“But there’s a law against it,” suggested Fred.
“Nothin’ but a man-made law.”
“What has that got to do with it?” asked John.
“I don’t care nothin’ about man-made laws. I don’t find nothin’ in the Bible that says I mustn’t smuggle, as you call it. Mind you, I ain’t sayin’ I’m no smuggler, I’m just talkin’ on general principles.”
“But you have not told us what Mr. Halsey smuggles.”
“No, and I ain’t goin’ t’ tell you.”
“Is that what you’re going to Cockburn Island now for?”
“Don’t you wish you knew?” said Rufe, laughing as if he considered his question to be a good joke. “Did you say,” he continued, “that you had ever been out in the barn?”
“We said we hadn’t been there,” replied Fred.
“There’s a mighty good reason why you didn’t go, I guess.”