Thus it was arranged. When Frank first arose to his feet he was so weak that he found it necessary to lean on the arm of his companion, but his strength came to him swiftly, so that he was like himself before he had returned more than a third of the way to the White Wings.
Then of a sudden he remembered that he had dropped his rifle when he was struck down in the basement, and he wanted to return for it at once. Bruce objected at first, but Frank was determined, and he finally won.
They retraced their steps and boldly entered the building. Bruce followed Merriwell down the stairs into the basement, holding his revolver ready for use while Frank lighted matches. Then they searched for the rifle, which Frank knew he held in his hand at the moment when he was struck down.
They could not find it, for it was not in the basement, nor was it anywhere in the building.
The boys quickly decided that the rifle had been removed by human hands, but the mystery was just as deep.
Leaving the building, they did not immediately return to the White Wings, but made their way past the little cove, through the stunted cedars and over the rocks to a position where they could look down upon the boat that was lying close to the island shore.
As Frank had surmised, it was the lap-streak sailboat belonging to the cock-eyed man. There was no one in or around it.
"Bruce," said Merry, "I have a proposal to make."
"Make it," grunted Browning.