The younger man again acted as spokesman:
As when Budge had questioned him, he gestured vaguely toward the west. Then he launched into a repetition of what he had said that forenoon.
"We stay on dis island all summer. Make trap. Build camp. Catch plenty fish, plenty lobster. All friend, eh?"
He laid his left hand on his heart, and with his right made a sweeping gesture that included the whole group.
Dropping suddenly out of sight, he reappeared with equal quickness, brandishing the black bottle.
"I've hired this island. You'll have to pay me rent if you stop here."
A shadow of wrath swept over the dark face. Instantly it was gone, and a smile replaced it.
"Rent!" he protested. "No, no! Friend no pay! We sing, we smoke, we drink, we playa cards. All good friend together. No pay money!"
The last very decided. The older man nodded vigorously in confirmation, and for the first time broke silence.
"No pay money!" he repeated. "All friend!"
The two laid their hands on their hearts and stood smiling and bowing. For a moment Jim was nonplussed. He backed the _Barracouta_ out of earshot.
"Well, what d'you think of the outlook?" asked Lane.
"Don't like it, and I don't like them. Too much palaver! I've got 'em sized up. They're regular salt-water gipsies; I've heard of 'em before. They drift round from one place to another, fish a little, lobster a little, smoke a good deal, and drink more. They'd be worse than a pestilence on this island. Yes, sir! They've got to go! They know just as well as I do that they've no right to stop here; but they're going to bluff it through. They'll try to stave me off by pretending not to understand what I mean, but you noticed they were bright enough when money was mentioned."
While the boys had been holding their council of war the two men had disappeared into their cabin, where they held an angry, but unintelligible, discussion. As Jim brought the _Barracouta_ once more alongside their heads quickly appeared. They were scowling blackly.
"No pay rent," came the defiant reply from both together.
"No go!" exclaimed the younger. "You go! We stay!"
"That settles it," said Jim. "I'll send for the sheriff to-night, and have him here in the morning."
He leaned over to start his engine. At his first movement the two dropped out of sight, but before he could rock the wheel they were up again, each holding a shot-gun. They leveled these weapons at the _Barracouta_.