The other boy gave a shout.
"Father," he cried, "Here's some trespassers."
Tommy stood his ground, surveying the intruder with some contempt, while Madge wide-eyed held his arm.
There were footsteps through the bushes, and a tall stout man in a panama hat came into view.
"Hullo," he said, "This is private property, you know."
Tommy looked at him gravely.
"I don't understand—I—I belong here, you know."
The big man smiled.
"You're a native, are you?" he said cheerfully. "Well, you're a pretty healthy looking specimen—but this place here is mine—for the time, at any rate."