"Hey, can't you stop and answer a civil question?" cried the second man, and his voice was angry. "If you don't we may"
Betty's cheeks flushed. Without turning her head she answered:
"You'd better be careful how you make threats. We are from Mr. Stonington's orange grove, and Mr. Hammond"
"There, I knew you'd make a mess of it, Bill!" said the other man—the one who had first spoken—and he turned accusingly to his companion.
"Well, I don't care—why don't they answer? I'll wager they've seen that fellow and won't tell."
"Why shouldn't they tell?" asked the first man in a low voice, but he forgot how well even low tones carry over the water. "They are strangers here I am certain. They can't know 'The Loon,' and so we're perfectly safe in questionin' 'em."
"Yes, but they won't answer. Git over closer and maybe we can make 'em!"
"Oh!" gasped Grace, startled.
"They'd better not try!" cried Mollie with a sparkle in her eyes. "We're not very far from home, and this boat can go twice as fast as theirs."
