"A fine coward you are, to kick him when he is a prisoner! You wouldn't dare to try it if he was free."
"I wouldn't, eh? I want you to understand I'm not afraid of anybody," blustered Tad. "I am"
"Tad, be quiet," cried his uncle. "I am fully capable of managing this affair. Don't kick him again."
"Yes, but look here, Uncle Sid, they"
"I will take care of things," cried Sid Merrick, and so sharply that his nephew at once subsided. But on the sly he shook his fist at both Tom and Sam.
"Maybe we had better make sure that nobody else is around," suggested Shelley, who had been Merrick's best aide in the capture.
"All right, look around if you want to," was Merrick's reply. "I am pretty certain these boys are alone here—although more persons from the steam yacht may be ashore."
They looked around, but, of course, found no body else. Then Dick, Tom and Sam were tied in a row to three trees which were handy. Merrick took possession of their single weapon.
"I don't want you to hurt yourselves with it," he said, grimly.
"Merrick, this is a high-handed proceeding,"
