Then with a noise like the rattle of musketry, which drowned the thunder of the breakers, the staysail burst asunder, and the yawl, in spite of the helmsman's efforts, flew up into the wind.

Down in the trough of a murderous sea she sank. A rapid glance astern showed the glistening reef towering several feet above the little craft, the white foam pouring down the honeycombed ridges as if the rock were baring itself to strike a harder blow.

"The door!" gasped Andy, as a gigantic roller bore down upon the reef.

Terence unfastened the cabin door, and as Mr. McKay appeared, holding Ellerton and Quexo in his powerful grip, the yawl seemed to stand on end. Then, borne on the breast of the roller, the little craft was tossed like a cork right over the rocks, her keel sc.r.a.ping the lee side of the reef by barely a yard!

The next instant the vessel was rolling sluggishly in the sullen swell within the lagoon, with two feet of water in her cabin, yet still afloat and in comparative safety.

"Don't wait to bale out!" shouted Andy. "You take the helm, pater.

Run her up into the wind and we'll anchor."

The ground swell inside the lagoon was too great to allow the yawl to run alongside the usual jetty. They would have to wait till low tide, when the reef would be sufficiently exposed to serve as a breakwater.

Quickly Andy and Terence made their way for'ard to let go the anchor.

When within a couple of hundred yards of the beach the yawl was again put head to wind, and with a splash the anchor plunged to the bottom of the lagoon. But just as Andy was checking the out-rushing cable, a sudden blow from the staysail caught him unawares, and the next instant he was struggling in the sea.

The waves carried the lad clear of the vessel, and in spite of his utmost efforts he was unable to regain the boat. His father hurled a coil of rope, but the line, being wet, became entangled and fell short.

Andy saw that it was impossible to swim back, so with a cheery wave of his arm he pointed towards the surf-beaten sh.o.r.e, and immediately struck out for land.

For an instant Mr. McKay intended to plunge into the sea and accompany his son on his perilous swim, till the thought of the possibility of Blight recovering his senses occurred to him. With Ellerton and Quexo disabled, the margin of safety was not sufficient when only Terence remained to guard the prisoner.

Both lads were surprised to see Mr. McKay rush into the flooded cabin and return with a rifle and a belt of ammunition.

"Don't alarm him," said Andy's father hurriedly. "But there may be sharks about."

Placing the rifle on the fo'c'sle of the heaving vessel, Mr. McKay watched the progress of the swimmer with the greatest concern, at the same time keeping a sharp look-out for the expected appearance of the dreaded dorsal fin of one of the tigers of the deep.

Steadily Andy swam sh.o.r.ewards, keeping up a slow yet powerful side stroke. Now he was in the grip of the ground swell. Once his feet touched bottom, but ere he could obtain a firm footing the "undertow"

swept him backwards.

The next instant he was lost to sight in a white-capped roller. The wave broke, then receded, but to the alarm of the anxious watchers there were no signs of the swimmer.

Quickly the wide expanse of sand uncovered; then, just as another breaker was preparing to launch itself upon the beach, Andy sprang to his feet.

Knee-deep in water he rushed up the shelving sh.o.r.e, and managed to grasp a ledge of rock ere he was again overwhelmed by the mighty torrent. Fortunately he was able to retain his grasp, and directly the rock uncovered he ran beyond the reach of the waves and sank exhausted on the beach.

"He'll be all right in a minute," said Mr. McKay with a sigh of relief.

"Now, Ellerton, you had better stay here while we get rid of the water; the bunks must be saturated. Come on, Terence, we've been through a great deal, and now, thank G.o.d, we are safely home; but all the same, we've plenty of work to do."

Thus exhorted, Terence a.s.sisted Mr. McKay to lower and stow the mainsail and secure the fragment of the head sail that had caused so much mischief.

This done, they plied buckets and balers till the level of the water they had shipped sank well beneath the floor-boards of the cabin. The yawl was no longer sluggish, but rose buoyantly as each roller pa.s.sed under her.

"This is the second gale from this quarter," remarked Mr. McKay, as they were partaking of a hastily cooked meal. "It's taught me a lesson. Had our boat been in her usual dock she would have been dashed to pieces. At the first opportunity we'll lay down a heavy set of moorings and keep her afloat. Here, thanks to the reef, the seas can never be really dangerous, though on sh.o.r.e they break heavily."

"When shall we be able to land, do you think?" asked Terence, for the short, sharp motion of the boat as she pitched at her cable was beginning to prove distressing, both to him and Quexo.

"In a matter of three hours Andy will be able to launch the other tender. We will then lay out another anchor, so as to make doubly sure, and get ash.o.r.e. Is Andy still on the beach?"

Terence went out of the cabin, and on returning reported that his chum was ascending the cliff path.

"Now we'll secure this fellow Blight once more. I see he's coming round," continued Mr. McKay.

Placing the prisoner again in the fo'c'sle he did not attempt to secure his arms and legs. He merely tied the man's thumbs with a piece of strong but fine cord, so that his arms were kept behind his back.

Unless he attempted to struggle, the prisoner would feel but slight inconvenience, while this method was a perfect means of keeping him in a state of utter helplessness.

Shortly after this was done Mr. McKay went on deck "to have a look round." Gazing landward, he saw Andy standing on the edge of the lower terrace, striving to attract his attention by means of a handkerchief tied to a stick.

"There's Andy calling me up in the Morse code," said Mr. McKay. "I wonder what's up? Terence, will you please hand me over that signalling flag from the for'ard port locker?"

Andy, though not an expert signaller, knew the Morse system fairly well. Slowly he transmitted the startling message:

"_The house has been broken into!_"

CHAPTER XVII

BACK TO THE ISLAND

Without hesitation Mr. McKay replied:

"Do not go to the house. Remain on beach till you can launch boat."

Andy gave the A.F., showing that he understood the signal, and descending to the sh.o.r.e proceeded to divest himself of most of his sodden clothing.

"There's something amiss ash.o.r.e, lads," explained Mr. McKay. "Andy's just informed me that the house has been broken into. Of course, it may be another unfortunate party of shipwrecked mariners, or a hurried visit of the crew of a pa.s.sing ship. All I hope is that there are no natives on the island."

"I wonder if any remained after the canoe left," remarked Ellerton.

"Quite possible. I never thought of that, by Jove! They might have slipped away in the night in order to steal all they could lay their hands upon. In that case there are only a few. We may be able to hunt them out without much trouble. Still, I'm sorry it's happened."

From the cabin Mr. McKay produced his pair of marine gla.s.ses. After a prolonged examination he exclaimed:

"Yes, the door is ajar. I feel certain I closed it when I left."

"We'll soon see what's amiss," said Terence. "See, the reef is uncovering and the wind is dropping."

"Yes, it is," a.s.sented Mr. McKay. "Andy will be able to put off in the boat in less than an hour. Ellerton, I think you had better remain on board."

"Why, sir?"

"Because of your arm."