Part 29 (2/2)
”That's queer, Rob!”
”What's queer, Merritt, the way you've been sitting and staring for the last ten minutes?”
”No; that odd noise Don't you hear it?”
The two lads were seated in the cabin of the sub the anxious days when Berghoff had made affairs on the island so filled with uneasiness for the Scouts and their friends, this sentry duty had been regularly ht the task had fallen to Rob and Merritt There was nothing very arduous about it, the only duty involved being to keep ears and eyes open Both lads had been engrossed in books dealing with their favorite subjects when Merritt called Rob's attention to the odd sound he had noticed
”Maybe my ears are not quite so sharp as yours, old boy,” said Rob, after an interval of listening ”I've got a slight cold, anyhow, and perhaps that's why I don't hear so readily”
”Possibly so”
”You are sure you weren't nantly responded Merritt ”No, siree, I'ain!”
”By Hookey! I heard it that time, too What can it be?”
”Hush!+”
The noise was aon the outside of the sub craft was anchored at some distance from the shore, so as to beday This made the noise all the ht have been caused by the inventor or the ensign paying a night visit to see that all ell, which they soainst the side”
”No; it appears to coreed Rob; ”tell you what, Merritt, it's up to us to investigate”
”Yes, let's go on deck and see e can find out”
Together the two lads cli tower, and presently e craft They stood here for a et their eyes used to the sudden change froht of the cabin to the inky darkness of the night It was overcast and starless, and it was impossible under any condition to see more than a few yards about therip that made the other lad wince
”Look! Look there!” he cried ”Off there It's gone now It only showed up for an instant”
”It's your turn to be nervous,” rejoined Merritt; ”blessed if I saw anything!”
”My eyes must be as sharp as your ears, then I'd swear I saw a shadowy thing sneak away fro?”
”A boat I only saw it an instant, of course; but I'm sure I wasn't mistaken”
”You think that so with the _Peacemaker_?”