“What’s that?” asked Chessleigh.
Ruth repeated Helen’s name for the rocky island on which Ruth had met the queer old man. “That call came from the island, didn’t it?” she asked.
“I believe it did. What’s going on here?”
“Hush!” begged Ruth. “That launch is coming nearer.”
As she spoke, a moving object appeared in the mist. There was no light upon this strange craft. Chessleigh shuttered his own cockpit lamp instantly.
“Good boy,” acclaimed Ruth. “There is something going on here——”
They heard the call from the island again. There was a low reply from the strange launch—a whistle. Then the launch pushed on and was hidden by the mist again from the curious eyes of Ruth and her companion.
But they knew it had gone close to the island, if it had not really touched there. Its engine was stilled. All they heard for a time was the lapping of the waves.
“I’d like to know what it means,” grumbled Chess.
Ruth agreed. “Let’s wait a while. We may hear or see something more.”