"When the moon gets into that very thick cloud we'll turn the boat over and run her into the water," whispered Andy. "You take this side and I'll take the other. Be ready."
"Right," whispered back Tom. So when the moon slipped behind the dark clouds the boys rose silently to their feet. They turned over the boat with hardly a sound, though it was awkward and heavy. Then they pulled it over the sand to the water. Tom got in and took the oars. Andy pushed the boat right out and leapt in himself. The moon was still hidden.
Silently the boys rowed away from the shore, hoping that the moon would remain behind the cloud until they had pulled out of sight. No shout was heard. No running feet. They were undiscovered, so far!
They rowed fast. When the moon came out again they were far from the little cove. "Look I Pull round a bit more," said Andy. "We're passing round the end of the island. We've done well to get here so quickly!"
Soon they were right round the narrow end of the third island. They rowed into the broad stretch of water between the second and third islands. Then across to the shore below the cliff where they had left the girls.
Jill and Mary were watching there. They had been very worried when night had come and brought with it no boys. They couldn't imagine what had happened. They were in a great state of alarm and fright.
And then Jill, looking through the glasses when the moon had swum out into a clear piece of sky, had seen a little boat coming into the stretch of water between the two islands. She clutched Mary's arm.
"Look! A boat! Is it the enemy?"
The girls looked and looked, their hearts w beating loudly. They could not see who was in the boat. It landed on the beach—and then the call of a sea gull floated up the cliff.
"Andy!" cried Jill, nearly falling down the cliff. "It's Andy! I'd know his sea gull call anywhere!"