It was growing darker and darker. Toward shore the shadows were black, so that a small vessel might lie close under an island and not be seen.
“What shall we do, Mr. Merriwell?” asked Howard.
“We’ll have to anchor for the night,” said Frank. “The accommodations for sleeping on board are not the best, but we’ll have to get along some way.”
“Let’s find some sheltered spot to anchor,” urged Diamond. “There is a swell here, and it tosses this light boat around too much to suit me.”
“We’ll have to get into the lee of an island somewhere, if we can’t find a cove,” said Frank. “Why not run over to that small island there, Dustan?”
Near at hand an island rose like a black blot on the face of the water. It could be faintly seen through the gloom.
It was agreed that shelter might be found near the smaller island, and so the Fox was headed that way. The run was made slowly, and the launch crept up to the island much as a mouse might creep up to smell a sleeping lion.
Close under the shore the swell was broken, and the light launch rested gently on the water.
“There is a cove,” said Hodge. “Can we get in there?”
“It’s narrow,” came doubtfully from Dustan, who was still at the wheel. “We may strike a sunken rock if we try to get in there in the darkness.”