Part 23 (1/2)

”We're back almost where we started from,” said Ray.

”Yes,” I said. ”We'll have to go by the moon, now, or we'll not get anywhere.”

We plunged again into the forest, and were careful to keep the moon on our left; this insured our holding our course in a westerly direction.

We kept, too, as much as possible to the higher ground, for the going was easier, there being less undergrowth to tangle our feet.

We hadn't been twenty minutes struggling on, when we were startled by a voice just before us. I seized Ray by the arm and dragged him with me into a thick bush.

”It's just like I've been a tellin' ye. The kids' friends tried to sink the other schooner,” said the voice of Mullins.

”An' I've been axin' ye,” spoke another voice, ”for why would they be suddenly--now--be wantin' to sink them. Why didn't they try it afore, if--”

The voices were lost in the forest, as the men went back the way Ray and I had come. We took up our march again, and a half hour had not gone when we arrived at the western end of the island, and stood under the cocoanut palms, looking on the two schooners, the _Pearl_ and the _Orion_. A little breeze rippled the waters of the bay. No lights showed on either vessel.

”Doesn't she look good?” said Ray.

”Yes,” I a.s.sented. ”I wish we were aboard.”

I led the way up the beach to the north a piece. We wove a bit of matting of palm fans, for a screen; and then soon had collected some dry wood for a signal-fire. We selected our fireplace at the edge of the palms, and so disposed the screen that the fire would be visible to the _Pearl_ but not to the _Orion_.

A match was struck; we had a blaze. Using my s.h.i.+rt, I let out flash after flash for the benefit of those on the _Pearl_; and we watched for an answer. For a considerable time we fed the fire, signalled, and watched. But no answering flash came. ”Looks like they're dead,”

grumbled Ray.

”That Mullins didn't talk like it,” I returned. ”Well, they'll look this way yet!” And I continued to signal.

Then suddenly we heard voices down the beach. Fortunately it was on the screened side of the fire.

”Quick, Ray!” I said. And we buried the fire in sand. We grasped the screen and fled into the brush.

”It's Mullins and his crowd again,” I said.

”They've come looking for us,” observed Ray.

We went a little way to the north in the forest, and came again to the beach.

”There's a boat from the _Pearl_!” said Ray.

The boat was moving fast toward the beach.

”They're already too far in to signal them,” I said. ”Let's swim down and crawl to the boat while they're talking with Mullins and his gang.”

We entered the water. The little waves helped to keep our heads invisible. We kept out from the beach till we were in line with the boat and the group on sh.o.r.e. It was then we moved directly to the boat, and got our heads close under the gunwale. I then rose close to a thole and peeped over. The moon was fairly bright.

I could see Robert and Julian between the group and the boat. I gave a low whistle intended to carry only so far as to the boys. Twice I repeated it. Then Robert started. Once more I whistled low. Robert now joined Julian, and the two came into the boat.

They made of themselves a screen for us, while Ray and I climbed in. And we lay ourselves down under the thwarts.