went away, or they are afraid that a rowboat might be cruising among the islets," Cliff said. "I wish we had brought something to eat!"

"I thought of it," Tom said, "but I guessed that they would come back before night and then leave us alone. And no cutter has shown itself. Well—shall we swim back before dark?"

"No," counseled Cliff, "let's wait. They may come back after dark."

Night closed down clear and with the stars very bright it was possible to watch easily. And, about eight o'clock, Tom, on guard, whispered to attract his comrades. They all made out the tender creeping quietly toward the careening hulk across the channel from them.

"If only we could get their boat—" Cliff mused.

"Well, maybe we can!" exclaimed Nicky. "Let's swim back closer and see what we can see!"

"But if they discover us—" objected Tom.

"They aren't looking for us, I feel sure," Cliff said. "They won't be watching the water in this direction. They are getting their food and things, it is most likely."

Going carefully, using a stroke that sent them through the water with little sound, they soon came close enough to see clearly the situation. One man sat, apparently waiting, in the tender, at the forward quarter; the chums held their breath and let themselves sink to the lowest point they could, till their feet touched the bottom, when they discovered him. But, either because he was half asleep, or from confidence that there was no one around, he sat slumped in the stern, and did not appear to notice anything unusual.

Treading water, catching finally the low rail where it almost dipped into the limpid water, at the shore side of the listing boat, Nicky, Cliff and Tom drew close together.

There was no one on deck. From the cabin came sounds of voices.

"I'm going to see—" whispered Cliff, and he began to climb up cautiously onto the deck. Nicky and Tom followed his example, but remained at the rail as he made a peremptory gesture to them to "stay back!"

Cliff crept closer to the cabin and when no one appeared and his courage rose, he became bolder and slipped on his wet feet to the cabin doorway. He listened a moment and then crept back to his chums and whispered rapidly.

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