the trail," said the other man, a dark-visaged fellow with a
sinister cast in one eye. "Come on now! Spit it out!"

"I was just exploring this island for fun," replied Hugh. "I was
hunting for---"

"You were hiding!" vehemently declared the black-eyed man.
"Whereabouts?"

"On the ground, of course; there are no trees to climb around here."

"None o' yer guff!" The swarthy captor dealt Hugh a hard thwack on
the side of his head. "What's yer business here, anyhow? Where's
yer camp?"

No answer.

"By gad, I'll make ye open up!" cried the cross-eyed knave, losing
his temper. He was about to strike Hugh again, when the other man,
still holding the lad in a steel-trap grip, pushed him aside with
one foot.

"Hold off, Harry," he commanded gruffly. "I know where his camp
is. He's one of Lem Vinton's crew. That's the _Arrow_ over yonder,
but he ain't going back to it yet awhile."

"Let me go!" shouted Hugh, struggling to free himself from the grasp
of those sinewy hands. "Let me go, I say! What---what do you want
with me? I tell you---help! Hel-----"