Dick, firmly. "And I'll not go away until you answer them—and maybe not then."
"This is private property, and"
"You said that before. What I want to know is, Do you know the other persons on this island?"
"There are no other persons."
"I believe otherwise. A lady has been abducted, and I have every reason to believe she was taken to this island."
"Nobody here. I was here yesterday, and all of last week, and I know."
"I think they brought the lady here this morning, about nine o'clock. I'd like to search the island for her."
"It's a trick!" cried Larkspur. "It's a trick to get ashore and play us foul! Don't you let 'em land!"
"There is nobody on this island but ourselves," said Alfred Darkingham. "You can take my word for that."
"Will you let me make a search?"
"I will not. I want you to go away, and at once. This is private property, and if you try to land I'll have the law on you!" And as he spoke the young man looked not only at the Rovers but also at the captain of the steam tug.
