"What are you going to do?" asked the former bully of Oak Hall.

"I am going to try to climb up those rocks."

"They are terribly steep!"

"I know it, but those vines look strong and we can use them as ropes, Link. But you need not try it, if you don't want to."

"Oh, if you try, so will I, Dave."

After that but little was said, both lads saving their breath for the task before them. Dave went up first, testing each vine with care as he advanced. Twice he slipped back, and once Merwell came to his aid and held him. It was a little thing to do, but it pleased our hero, and his face showed it.

At last they were out of the hollow and each threw himself on the ground to rest. Then Dave walked to a near-by hill and gazed in every direction. Not a human being was in sight anywhere.

"Well, we've got to find them somehow," he said to Merwell. "Come ahead." And side by side they set off through the forest in the fast-gathering darkness.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Dave went up first, testing each vine with care.]

CHAPTER XXVI-THE COLUMN OF SMOKE

"Well, we are lost, that is all there is to it. And I am so dead tired I can't walk another step." And thus speaking, Link Merwell sank down on a tree-root to rest.

He and Dave had been plunging along through the forest and across several clearings for the larger part of an hour. They had found what looked to be a trail, but it had suddenly come to an end in front of a small cave that looked to be the lair of some wild animal, and they had gone on once more. Now the darkness of the tropics shut out the surrounding landscape.

Link Merwell certainly looked the picture of misery. His clothing was much tattered and still wet, and his forehead was swollen from contact with the rocks. One of his shoes was so cut that his bare foot was exposed.

"It looks as if we were lost," replied Dave. "In this darkness it will be difficult to go much further. But I had hoped, by keeping in a straight line, that, sooner or later, we'd reach the sh.o.r.e of the island."

"I reckon we didn't walk in a straight line-most folks that get lost in a woods don't."

"You are right in that, but I kept as straight as I could, Link.

However, that is neither here nor there. If we have got to stay here all night we may as well try to make ourselves comfortable. But I wish the others knew I was safe."

"Can't you fire your gun? It ought to be dry by now."

"I'll try it."

Dave sat down and commenced to work over the fowling-piece. In a few minutes he tried it. Bang! went the gun, the shot echoing far and wide through the forest and among the rocks. Then both boys listened for a reply.

"Nothing doing," muttered Merwell, after a minute of utter silence.

"I am sure the others would fire a shot in return if they heard that,"

said Dave. "We must be further from them than I expected. Well, I don't see what we can do excepting to try to make ourselves comfortable. We might climb one of these tall palms and take a look around."

"Yes, that's it!" exclaimed the other youth, eagerly. "Why didn't we think of that before? But it will be hard work climbing one of those trees," went on Merwell, gazing up at the straight trunk with the first of the limbs many feet above their heads.

"I'll do it native fashion," answered Dave.

He had seen the natives of the South Sea Islands climb tall trees by means of a vine-rope cast about the waist and the tree-trunk.

Selecting several strong vines, he twisted them into a rope, and then pa.s.sed the same around a tree-trunk and to the back of his waist. Then he took off his shoes and stockings and placed his bare feet against the tree. By "hiking" the rope a few inches at a time, he was able to "walk up the tree" with comparative ease.

As soon as the branches were reached, Dave discarded the rope and went up as far as the strength of the tree would permit. He was now close enough to the top to get a good look around, and he cast his eyes about eagerly, hoping to catch sight of some of his friends, or their campfire.

"See anything?" called up Merwell, eagerly.

"Not yet," answered Dave, and then he turned around in the tree-top.

He now made out the rolling sea.

"I see a light!" he cried.

"A campfire?" queried the youth below.

"No, it is on the water. I think it must be a light on a ship."

"What kind of a ship?"

"A sailing vessel of some sort," answered Dave, and he wondered if it could be the _Golden Eagle_, coming back after the storm.

"Maybe it's the ship that was coming back for those Englishmen," went on Merwell, for Dave had told him about the men. He heaved a mountainous sigh as he realized how affairs had turned against him.

For a moment he thought of running away and trying to find Jasniff, but then the darkness and loneliness of the forest appalled him. He felt that he would rather be a prisoner than be alone in such a spot.

Dave watched the waving light for some time, as it rose and fell on the bosom of the ocean, but could learn nothing concerning the craft that showed it. Then he continued to look around the island. No campfire was to be located, and finally he rejoined Merwell.

"The light on that ship was all I saw," he said. "Perhaps it might pay to walk down to the sh.o.r.e in that direction. But it is a long distance, and in the darkness we might fall into another of the caves."

"Let us stay here," answered Merwell.

"It will probably be as well. We can build a campfire and dry our clothing and then go to bed."

"Wish I had something to eat," grumbled the lad who had been caught.

"So do I, Link. But we haven't anything, so we'll have to make the best of it. Try to find some firewood. Luckily I have a waterproof matchsafe along and it is full of matches," added our hero.

Fate was kinder to them than they had expected, for in hunting for firewood, Merwell found a hole containing what they took to be native hares. He killed two of the creatures, and at once set to work to clean and skin them. Then, when Dave had started the fire, the game was broiled while the boys had their clothing drying.

"Not much of a meal, but better than nothing," said Merwell, and our hero agreed with him. They found some water in a hollow of the rocks, left there by the hurricane, and had a drink, after which both lay down to rest.

"Don't you think we ought to stand guard?" asked the big youth.

"Oh, I don't know," replied Dave. "I am dead tired and so are you, and I don't think anybody will come to harm us,-and there are no large wild beasts on the island. I guess we can take a chance," and as soon as their clothing was dry, both turned in, on beds of vines and moss.

In the morning Merwell was the first to stir, and when Dave awoke he found the campfire burning merrily. The big youth was nowhere to be seen.

"Can he have run away?" mused our hero, and quickly felt to learn if the money-belt with the jewels was safe. It was still in its place and he breathed a sigh of relief. Then he gave a call.