"We'll have to be on our guard, then, Thad?"

"That goes without saying, until we know more about who our neighbors
are," the scout-master replied.

"It sort of complicates the situation some, too, don't it?" Allan asked.

"Yes, and perhaps we'd better not say anything to the rest until we
learn something more about this thing," Thad told him.

"How are you going to do that, when this man seems disposed to give us
the cold-shoulder?" inquired the other.

"I had about made up my mind to go off for a little stroll, and see what
I could run across near by," the scout-master continued. "This island
isn't so very large but I could find my way around; and while that storm
is howling I'm not anxious to cross over to the other side. This is the
sheltered part, and like as not these people, whoever they turn out to
be, will have taken up their camp somewhere about here. But I wanted to
warn you so you might make sure none of the other fellows wandered off."

"I'll see to it, though I don't think they're apt to do anything of that
sort, as they're a tired bunch right now," Allan assured him.

"And while you're about it," continued the other, impressively, "you'd
better keep your hand on that shotgun of ours all the while, until you
see me beckon to you again."

"That sounds like you expected we'd be up against it good and hard