But they did not halt until they were on the sandy beach, where the big waves were pounding. There, at least, the going was easier.

"Now, which way?" asked Andy, as they halted to rest.

"It's hard to say. Camp might lie in either direction, and it's too dark to see. I guess it doesn't make much difference. We'll come up to it by morning, anyhow, if we can keep going that long. Let's head off this way."

Frank started to circle the island sh.o.r.e to the right, and Andy followed. At times the rain would cease, and then it would begin its downpour again. The lightning was less frequent, but they did not need the flashes to guide them now.

That night seemed almost a year long, they said afterward. Sometimes they fell from very weariness, only to get up again and struggle on.

Frank placed his arm about his brother and half carried him at times.

They covered many miles. As yet they had seen no indication of their "camp," as they called the place on the beach opposite where they had left the _Gull_ riding at anchor, and where they had placed their small boat and a supply of provisions.

"We must have come the wrong way, and have almost made a circuit of the island," said Andy wearily.

"Never mind, it can't be much farther off now," and Frank tried to speak cheerfully. But it was hard work.

The rain had ceased for some time now, and looking up the boys saw the faint gleam of stars.

"It's going to clear," observed Andy.

"Yes," a.s.sented Frank.

Another mile was covered. A dim glow seemed to suffuse the sky. It grew brighter.

"It's morning!" cried the older lad.

"Yes, and look there!" suddenly exclaimed Andy. He pointed ahead.

"There's where our camp was," he added.

Frank gazed for a moment in silence. Then he gasped:

"But our small boat's gone."

"And so is the _Gull_!" fairly shouted the younger lad as he waved his hand toward the place where it had been anch.o.r.ed. "That man has taken it and gone off! We're marooned Cliff Island!"

CHAPTER XXV

A LUCKY QUARREL

Frank stared uncomprehendingly toward the slowly heaving waters of the bay.

"I can't believe it!" he exclaimed. "The _Gull_ must be somewhere else. We're at the wrong place."

"I only wish we were," spoke Andy dubiously.

"But you can see for yourself that this is where we camped. Here is where our small boat was pulled up on sh.o.r.e, where we slept under it, and, if you want any better evidence--here's grub! Grub, Frank do you hear? We shan't starve, even if we are marooned!"

He raced to a clump of scrub bushes some distance up on sh.o.r.e and began pulling out boxes and tins.

"Good!" shouted Frank. "I never was so hungry before in my life. Now if we could only make a fire!"

But that was out of the question. Every bit of driftwood, of which there was a big supply, was soaking wet. The boys had plenty of matches, in waterproof boxes, but they would be useless until some dry fuel was available.

"Well, it can't be helped," said Andy, as he proceeded to open a tin of corned beef. "We ought to be thankful for this. Open that tin box of crackers. Luckily they're not wet. We can make a meal off this, and we'll have a cooked dinner. I wonder--why--blub--ugh--that man--um--lum--didn't--"

"Oh, don't try to talk and eat at the same time," requested Frank with a laugh--the first since their adventure in the cave. "Take your time." For Andy was fairly devouring the corned beef.

"Hum! I guess you can't be very hungry, or you wouldn't take your time," retorted the younger lad. "Hurry up with those crackers. And there's some jam, somewhere. Oh, for a cup of hot coffee."

"Cheese it!" cried Frank sharply. "Do you want to make me throw something at you? But what were you trying to say when you had your mouth full a while ago?"

"I said it was a wonder that man didn't take this grub with him when he took our boat and the _Gull_."

"I don't know. Maybe he couldn't find the food. But what makes you think he took our boats?"

"They're gone; aren't they?"

"Yes, but I think the tide carried away the small boat. The waves came up unusually high, as you can see by the marks in the sand. We didn't pull the skiff up far enough."

"What about the _Gull_?"

"Well, I admit he might have taken that, though there is a possibility that it dragged the anchor. We'll take a look all around the island after we get things in shape. If we've got to stay here a while we might as well be comfortable."

"I don't believe we'll stay very long."

"Why not?"

"Because dad will start out and search for us if we don't get home pretty soon, and the first place he'll head for will be this island."

"Guess you're right. Pa.s.s the jam. My! but this tastes good!"

"Good! I should say so!" agreed Andy.

They made a rude but substantial breakfast, washing it down with plenty of spring water which they found a little way inland. Then they talked matters over.

The first thing to do, they agreed, was to look for the _Gull_, and to this end they once more ascended the cliff and looked all about. She was not in sight, nor was there any other craft on the waters that now sparkled in the sunlight, for the storm had pa.s.sed away.

"The next thing to do is to make another circuit of the island," went on Frank. "We'll do it as quickly as we can, and perhaps we can come upon our boat. It may have drifted ash.o.r.e."

Together they started off. They planned to keep up the search all day, taking their lunch with them, and camping out at night, as they had done before.

"But first we'll hoist a distress signal, in case dad comes for us, and we'll leave a note saying where we have gone and that we'll come back,"

suggested Frank.

This was done. They tied one of their coats to a tall tree well up on the cliff, where it could be seen by a boat coming from the direction of Harbor View. Then, leaving a note, written on a piece of paper from a cracker box, they set out.