Part 37 (2/2)
”Tell you one thing,” remarked Phil. ”If there was any truth in that story of a pirates' treasure, the pirates would have plenty of places where to hide the h.o.a.rd.”
”Humph! I don't believe in the treasure and never will,” returned Roger. ”If the treasure was ever here, you can make up your mind that somebody got hold of it long before this.”
”If those Englishmen came here, it is queer that we don't see some trace of them,” said Captain Sanders.
”Maybe they are like Jasniff and Merwell, keeping out of sight,”
ventured Dave.
”That may be true.”
”I think I see some figures moving down near the sh.o.r.e over there,”
continued Roger, after another look around. ”But they are so far off I am not sure. They may be animals.”
”They look like two men to me,” exclaimed Dave, after a long look.
”What if they should be Jasniff and Merwell! Oh, let us walk there and make sure!”
”That's a good, stiff walk,” answered Captain Sanders. ”We can't go from here very well-unless we want to climb over some rough rocks. It would be better to go down and follow the sh.o.r.e.”
”Then let us do that. It won't do us any good to go back to where we left the others, now the s.h.i.+p isn't in sight.”
But the captain demurred, and finally it was agreed to return to camp and start out for the other side of the island directly after dinner.
”Turtle soup for all hands!” announced Billy Dill, proudly. ”Best ever made, too.”
”It certainly smells good,” answered Dave.
The turtle soup proved both palatable and nouris.h.i.+ng, and, eaten with crackers, made a good meal.
”We'll take some crackers and fish along,” said the captain, to the boys, when they were preparing to leave the camp again. ”For there is no telling how soon we'll get back. It may take us longer than we think to reach the other side of this island.”
”I've got a knapsack,” said one of the castaway sailors. ”You can take that along, filled,” and so it was arranged. Dave carried his gun and the captain had a pistol.
”If there is any game, we'll have a try for it,” said Dave. ”Even a few plump birds would make fine eating.”
”Yes, or a rabbit or hare,” added Roger.
The party walked along the sh.o.r.e as far as they could go and then, coming to what appeared to be an old trail, took to that.
”What do you make of this path?” said Dave. ”I had an idea the island was uninhabited.”
”It is supposed to be,” answered Captain Sanders. ”But there is no reason why somebody shouldn't live here.”
Presently they came to a fine spring of water. Near by lay an old rusty cup, and a little further on a broken bucket.
”Somebody has been here and that recently,” was Dave's comment. ”I hope we are on the trail of Merwell and Jasniff.”
They walked on a little further and then, of a sudden, Captain Sanders halted the boys and pointed up into one of the trees.
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