The cove was empty!
“This can’t be the place, Frank!” exclaimed Bart. “The launch is not here!”
“It is the place where we left her, just the same,” said Merriwell. “Right here is where we climbed up the rocks, and down there are the points to which she was made fast.”
“It can’t be, for she isn’t here now, and we can see the most of this little cove.”
“She has moved,” said Frank, “but she must be near.”
Then he softly hailed, calling Diamond’s name.
There was no answer!
“Of all the mysterious things that ever happened, I think this is the strangest!” gasped Hodge, bewildered. “I can see now that this is where we left her, but she has vanished.”
“As completely as if the island had swallowed her. Neither Dustan nor Diamond would have thought of leaving this spot till we returned.”
“Of course not.”