As soon as they were gone, Jerry came down from his perch, and off they started once more for the island.

The yacht sailed so far off they thought they were no longer observed.

But in this they were mistaken for Si Peters had a field gla.s.s with him.

This gla.s.s was now brought into play, and Peters' crowd kept track of Jerry and the others until the vicinity of Hermit Island was reached.

"Going to camp there," said Wash Crosby.

"It ought to give us a fine chance to get square," replied Si Peters, and the crowd began to plot against our hero and his friends.

But in the meantime the big row-boat disappeared behind the bushes which fringed a narrow inlet, and, try their best, those on the yacht could not locate it again.

"Never mind, we'll come up some other day," said Si Peters. "It's getting too late to do anything now."

And the yacht returned to Rockpoint.

It was Harry who selected a landing place on Hermit's Island. He found a smooth, sandy beach, and here the row-boat was drawn up well out of the water.

Back of the beach was a little clearing. On one side were tall rocks, and on the other the woods.

"As good a place as any to pitch the tent," said Jerry. "Come, Blumpo, stir yourself."

The tent was brought out and put up, and a camp fire was lit. While Blumpo gathered brush to put into the tent to sleep on, Jerry and Harry tried their hands at fishing.

Soon Harry had a bite, and brought in a perch weighing a little over a half a pound.

"Good for you, Harry, you take first prize!" cried Jerry.

Hardly had he spoken when he felt a jerk. There was a lively struggle for fully a minute, and then Jerry landed his catch--a rock ba.s.s, all of a pound in weight.

"Second, but best," laughed Harry. "I guess that is all we want for to-night."

The pan was over the fire getting hot. Blumpo cleaned the fish and put them on. In the meantime, Jerry made a pot of coffee.

Never had a meal tasted better to the boys. They lingered over the sc.r.a.ps for a long while, talking over the events of the day. Blumpo also gave them a song. It was a happy time.

"Somebody ought to stand guard all night, I suppose," said Jerry, when it came time to turn in.

"Oh, nonsense!" cried Harry. "Who is going to hurt us in this out of the way spot?"

"We don't know what may be around."

"I'se too tired to watch," put in Blumpo.

"Never knew the time you weren't tired," laughed Jerry. "But let it go, if you wish."

Quarter of an hour later all of the boys had turned in. Blumpo picked out a corner of the tent nearest the rear. Harry slept in the middle, while Jerry took up a place not far from the front flaps.

As it was rather warm, they left one of the flaps open to admit the air.

Jerry lay in such a position that he could look out on the smoldering campfire.

Jerry was as tired as the rest, and it did not take him long to drop off into a sound sleep.

How long he slept he did not know. A low noise outside aroused him. He opened his eyes with a start, wondering what it was.

Then came another growl or grunt, he could not tell which. He sat up and looked outside.

A sight met his gaze that nearly caused his heart to stop beating. The camp fire was almost out, but beyond its fitful glare he beheld a pair of large eyes bent directly upon the tent opening.

The eyes belonged to some savage beast which was about to attack the camp.

CHAPTER XIII.

JERRY'S SHOT.

Jerry realized that he and his friends were in great peril. What the savage beast outside was he could not tell, but it looked large and powerful in the gloom beyond the camp fire.

There was no time to lose if anything was to be done.

Luckily, before lying down, the young oarsman had loaded his gun and hung it up on the front pole of the tent, within easy reach.

Sitting up, he now took the weapon and pulled back the trigger.

The click reached the ears of the animal outside, and once again it let out that peculiar sound, neither grunt nor growl.

Then Jerry put the gun to his shoulder, and, taking aim at one of the shining eyes, fired.

Bang!

The report of the firearm caused Harry and Blumpo to spring up in wild alarm.

"What's the matter?"

"Heaben sabe us!" moaned Blumpo.

"A wild animal outside," cried Jerry. "Get your gun, quick!"

Harry leaped for his weapon.

"What is it?"

"I can't make out."

Reloading as rapidly as he could, our hero dashed into the open. A howl of pain told he had hit his mark. The beast had turned and was crashing through the brush close to the rocks.