Part 12 (1/2)
”We can't see the Cove yet frolimpse of it won't come until we move forward a bit farther We'll either have to try to cliet around it It doesn't go down to the water, does it, Bob?”
”No, and I didn't see it when I was here several days ago,” Bob replied in a low voice ”I suppose it must have been here then, but I didn't see it There was no fence on the beach, and I was following the water's edge”
”There's a big tree close to it,” said Frank, pointing ”And, look
There's a liht shi+n up the tree and out on that limb and drop”
”I'm afraid I couldn't do it,” said Captain Folsoot,” said the sensitive Frank, with quick co the other of his loss
”I'rimly: ”Besides, the German that took it, paid with his life”
There was an aard silence
”Anyhow,” said Jack, breaking it, ”it would be ticklish work for any of us to get over that fence by clih, and the strands of barbed wire curve forward at the top That liround, and not very strong, either It looks as if ould have to make our way around the fence and out on the beach”
”Let's go, then,” said Bob, impatiently ”Now that I'm here I want a look at Starfish Cove I have one of Frank's hunches that there is so forward toward the edge of the grove, which here was out of sight, being some distance away, as Jack had led the ithin the shelter of the trees because of the radiance cast by the moon
”Wait, Bob, wait,” whispered Frank, suddenly, in a tense voice, and he restrained his co”
All crouched down, listening with strained attention
In a ed in low conversation came to their ears, and a moment later two for in their direction
CHAPTER XI
PRISONERS
”I heard a fellow shouting and beat it, or I'd'a done a better job
Anyhow, that's one plane won't be able to fly for a while”
One of the two rossed in conversation, passed abreast of the party on the outside of the boundary fence and not ten feet from them The speaker was a short, broad, powerfully built man in appearance, and he spoke in a harsh voice and with a twang that marked him as a ruffian of the city slums
He wore a cap, pulled so low over his features as to !
The ht was full on the face of the other, and the boys recognized hirowl fro the line toward the beach, which he quickly smothered
Apparently, it did not attract attention, for Higginbotham and his companion continued on their way oblivious to the proxiinbothah voice And he spoke with so into other people's business”
The other uishable to those in hiding, and the precious pair proceeded on their way, now out of earshot But enough had been overheard It was plain now, if it had not been before, where lay the guilt for the atteginbothaed in soer, after Higginbothaotten beyond earshot and were lost to view a the trees, Jack remained quiet but inwardly a-boil Then he turned to Captain Folsoe,” he whispered, indignantly ”Poor Bob and Frank To have their airplane da into his dirty secrets I wish I had my hands on him”
Suddenly his tone took on a note of alarm
”Why, where are Bob and Frank?” he deo”