Part 21 (2/2)

”What shall I do with them, Charley?” asked Walter, who had remained kneeling by the ruined treasure.

”Throw them away, they are valueless,” exclaimed his chum somewhat testily, for his disappointment was almost more than he could bear cheerfully.

Walter lifted the leather box and disappeared in the darkness toward the water. He did not throw it into the stream, however, but after a moment's hesitation on the bank, descended to his canoe and, shoving his burden far up under the stern deck, retraced his steps to the fire.

In spite of their attempts at cheerfulness, the gloom of their disappointment hung heavy upon them, and it was rather a silent group that gathered in the wigwam after supper. Chris and the captain soon sought their beds and ere long their loud, regular breathing told that they had found solace for the disappointment of the day. The two boys felt too excited to sleep and sat long talking over their still perilous situation.

Suddenly, as on the other two nights, began the now familiar tolling of the mysterious bell.

The captain stirred uneasily in his sleep and Chris opened his eyes drowsily but soon fell off to sleep again.

”Come outside, Walt, where we can talk without the chance of being overheard,” Charley whispered.

The two lads stole softly out of the wigwam and down to the water's edge where they sat down on the gra.s.sy bank.

”Now listen closely,” Charley commanded.

CHAPTER XXIII.

MORE MYSTERY.

The two boys remained quiet for several minutes listening to the bell's deep toned tolling. At last Walter remarked, ”It don't sound as though it was very far away from us, not over two miles, I should say.”

”Good,” exclaimed Charley with satisfaction, ”I was about to ask you what you thought the distance was. Two miles is about what I had estimated. We can't say very exactly, for sound is likely to travel far in this still air. But let us make a liberal allowance for the stillness. I think we are safe in saying that the sound comes from a point not more than four miles distant from this island. Now, the next question is, from what direction does it come?”

”It's hard to tell exactly, the sound seems to fill the air so, but I should say that it came from the westward,” said Walter after another moment of careful listening.

”We agree again,” declared Charley, ”it is not likely that we are both mistaken. Now that we have settled the distance and the direction from which the sound comes, what do you say to starting out in the morning and trying to solve the mystery?”

”The captain will not let us go,” Walter objected.

”For this once, I do not intend to consult him,” Charley said. ”We will get off before he is awake. We can leave a note saying that we will be back before dark.”

”Good,” exclaimed his chum, ”even if we accomplish nothing else, we may find an island that can be defended better than this one.”

So it was settled and the boys crept back to bed eager for the coming of the morrow.

The eastern sky was just beginning to lighten a little when the boys got up and dressed, collected what cold food they could find, and, leaving a note where the captain could not fail to find it, stole down to the canoe and quietly embarked.

Charley's shoulder was still too sore to permit of his using the paddle so he made himself comfortable in the bow while Walter in the stern wielded the blade.

The canoe was headed around to the westward, as near as they could determine, for the point from whence had come the tolling of the bell.

”I noticed what looked like a large island, from our camp, about two miles off and in the direction we are headed,” observed Walter as they glided swiftly away.

”I noticed it too,” Charley answered, ”and I do not think we can do better than start our search there, if it proves to be an island. We will be there in an hour at this rate. I wish I could spell you, Walt, but it don't seem right for you to be doing all the work.”

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