Part 24 (1/2)
”They grabbed ,” put in Bud, as almost as impatient to tell the story as Cub was to hear it ”I went down there when I saw a rowboat pulling up and didn't recognize the ht they were still on the island, for when they left us a few hours before, they didn't go toward the landing, and we didn't see therabbedto see as the matter”
”Yes, and then I ran back to the radio table and telegraphed to Max Handy at Rockport,” added Hal, taking up the narrative at this point and indicating a disposition to volunteer details , two of the them appeared and seizedand rowed to a yacht almost a duplicate of Mr Perry's We were confined in the cabin until after dark and then put ashore on an island half a mile from here That was the lastof theet away?” asked Cub
”We flagged a o There were two men and two boys in it We told the us back here and see if you had returned hello, Uncle Ja the latter by the hand ”I didn't recognize you at first, though I knew you were co”
”Where is Alvin?” asked Mr Baker anxiously ”Didn't you see him on the island over there?”
”No,” Hal replied with a look and tone of surprise ”That is another desert island--not a person there”
”What does thatto the prisoner ”You told us all three of the boys that you took away froether on that island over there”
”I didn'tof a look of confusion, however
”Well, what did you mean?”
”I meant they were on two islands not far apart; the other fellow is on the island a little further on”
”Is thatyet?” Mr
Baker inquired
”Yes,” Bud replied
”I wonder if we couldn't induce them to make a run over to the island where this fellow says he left lad to do it,” Bud replied ”They seemed to be verythey could to help us”
”All right; suppose you go down there and tell theets back, but I can't stand any delay that isn't absolutely necessary”
”Why, where has your father gone, Cub?” asked Hal
”He started out to get police help,” answered the boy addressed ”His first call was to be at Rockport, but no doubt he'll coe I sent for hiraphed to our wireless friend, Max Handy, and asked hio down to the docks and tell father what happened since he left He's on the way now;to father this minute”
”What was it that happened?” Bud inquired
Cub gave a description of the visit of the four ”owners” of Friday Island and the dispute that resulted inthe other three away on a ht when I just saw you co to agreeht, I decided they couldn't have had time to do that; besides, when they left us they went in the other direction”
”No, they didn't have anything to do with it,” Hal assured his friend
”You'd better tell the truth about wherethe prisoner ”I won't stand anyfrom you”
”He's there unless somebody took him off the island, same as these boys were taken off the island we put them on,” declared ”the captain” in sullen tone and manner
”Well, it'll be an unhappy circu been there,” Mr Baker re with us,” said Hal ”Then there'll be no doubt about our going to the right island Coo down to the boat and tell Mr Leland and Mr White ant to do”