work from time to time at the

crest of foam at her bow and the rapid popping of her exhau

ted her, she was near enough for the chu

Hunter," Walter exclaimed, "and there are fou

nt with us," speculate

If we have got to have a fuss with 'em at all though, I guess now is as good a time as ever. I'll get Chris out of the way," he added, in an undertone to Walter. "He d

that the launch was coming in to the little

til I call you," he directed. "If I give one long w

sight, when the big launch, its eng

as vicious and mean looking as himself. Hunter made the launch fas

ed the visitors with a

snarl, "I didn't come all the way over

lter curtly, his quick temper beginning t

" snarled Hunter. "You brought that littl

harley answ

off this island-and get off o

ld demanded, his own a

ht to stay here. This island belongs to a

e been advised that this island belongs to the state," he said, coolly, "and we believe

ight away. We don't allow no niggers

n the dock. Very well, we moved over here to avoid trouble. Now you come over here and try to order us off t

niggers fishing 'round hyar

ny fishing. He is our cook-

ce. You fellows have got

to do," Charley

agreed Captain W

rd job making us,

mart Alecks ain't off this island before to-morrow

get in your boat and go. We want nothing to do with you and your gang. We will tend to our own business and you had better tend to yours. If you bother us any more, well, I

ot on Charley's pa

t," denied Hunter. "We were all

harley, quickly, and Hunter muttered a

't proof," he snarled. "Take all the guesses you want to yo

his veiled threat had failed, bu

rdered. "Get into

s are gone. Before I go, I'm going to slap you around a bit to teach you some manners, you y

nged forward at Charley who stood his ground a little pale but unafraid. He came at the lad with a rush, bot

with all of his weight behind it. It caught the sallow fisherman fair on his chin and sent him reeling backwards. He stag

uffians with upraised knives. Their own knives lay in their fishing belts up in the cabin. No stick or club was within his reach. It was a case of bare hands against

ishermen leaped for him as h

eports and the shrill whine of whistli

the fishermen

ran for the launch and his co

you ain't got that little nigger behind a tree guarding you with a gun. We"-b

urried to Charley and he

n his feet. "I came down so hard it knocked the w

exclaimed. "I thought you were g

chum. "Hunter might have beat me up a bit but I think he a

s to drive us away from here,

at was the meaning of that schooner, the motor boat, and those signals last night. I found a ca

and he'll put the gang where they will not bo

t. We see a schooner at night acting queerly, also a motor boat, and we find a stock of aguardiente buried on the island, but that proves

ave trouble with those fellows sure. They can't carry on such a game with us here on the island

r carefully and decide what is best to do. But where's Chris? I

ey hastened up for the cab

his speed with a sigh of relief for the little negro

shots came just in the nick of time. I a

little negro. "You dun tole me to stay right hy

se shots come from?

come from where you-al

ecided. "Well, some one on the island has done us a good turn and we better look

oughly mystified little group. They had been all over their l