“I don’t believe it’s here,” declared Frank.
Rawlins chuckled. “Thought it was pretty good,” he exclaimed. “You’ve been looking right at her, too.”
“Looking at her!” exclaimed Mr. Pauling.
“Where?”
“Straight ahead,” laughed Rawlins, “over against that point.”
All eyes were now turned towards the point and as Sam again took to his oars and they drew nearer and nearer the two men and the boys searched the rocks and greenery in vain.
Not until they were within one hundred yards of the shore were they rewarded. Then Tom uttered a cry. “Hurrah, I see it!” he shouted. “Gosh, but she was hidden! Say, how did you do it?”
“Just a bit of camouflage,” chuckled Rawlins. “Idea I got when making a set once. Thought it might be handy to be able to lie on the surface and not be seen sometime.”
“Well you’ve certainly succeeded,” declared Mr. Henderson. “The effect of the rocks and foliage is perfect. I’d defy any one to see her five hundred feet distant.”
Even now the outlines of the submarine were so hidden by the clever painting on her upper works and hull that the boys could not have been sure what was boat and what was foliage if a man had not appeared, emerging from a hatchway, and followed by two others.