“Coming!”
Rattleton uttered the exclamation.
“Sounds like it!” agreed Diamond.
Browning grunted.
Merriwell was silent.
The wind was right for them to hear any sound that might come from the direction of the unknown vessel, but when it rose to a wild shriek nothing but its howling could be distinguished. When it fell, each of the four boys distinguished the sound of oars.
Somehow there seemed something mysterious about the movement of the boat. Each of the listening lads felt the mystery, although they could not have told why.
Harry’s teeth chattered. He was cold, and he was nervous. The events of the night had quite unmanned him.
Clug-clank, clug-clank, clug-clank.
More than a single set of oars were being used. Frank felt sure of that, for his keen ear distinguished something in the sound that settled the point in his mind.