"Whoever was in the boat has come ashore on the island."
"Then why didn't he run into the cove down here?"
"Because the boat would be seen in the cove, and where it lays it is not liable to be seen from the island."
"Why should anybody wish to come onto the island here and not be seen?"
"I don't know, but I'll wager something that that is the lap-streak sailboat belonging to our friend, the cock-eyed man. If I am right, he is somewhere on this island."
"He warned us not to come here."
"Yes. He told us what happened to the Boston man who came here. It was plain to me that he wanted us to keep away. He ran down ahead of us, and he is on the island. Why should he care to frighten us away?
Why should he hurry to get here ahead of us? I tell you, old man, this is a mystery worth solving."
Bruce grunted. He felt that Merriwell was right, but he realized it might not be an easy thing to solve the mystery of the island.
The big Yale man stood looking out of the window and watching the boat, while Frank continued his investigations. Merriwell wandered from room to room, and at last descended the stairs again.