By that time they were at the place where it was necessary for them to leave the valley and pick their way through the scattered bowlders to the shore of the cove. While they were climbing the rocks, Carl suddenly thrust his head out from behind one of them.
“Hoop!” he cried joyfully. “Id vas Bob, himseluf! Bob, der sighdt of you makes me so habby as I can’d dell!”
“Same here!” chimed in the voice of Dick, as he showed himself beside Carl.
Dick was armed with an old harpoon, and Carl carried a hatchet.
“You’re a nice pair, I must say!” cried Bob. “The last order I gave instructed you to clear the propeller and sink the Grampus.”
“The propeller is cleared, mate,” said Dick; “but you wouldn’t catch Carl and me going to the bottom of the cove in the Grampus until we had found out what became of you. We heard a couple of shots, and nothing could keep us from coming ashore, after that. Who did you mix up with?”
“Five savages. I don’t know whether they live on the island, or whether they came from the river bank. Anyhow, I came front to front with them, and they were creeping in the direction of the boat.”
“Den dey knowed der poat vas in der cove!” said Carl, casting a cautious look behind, in the direction of the valley. “Vas dere more as fife, Bob?”
“I don’t know. Five are all I saw. We’d better get away from here as soon as we can, though, and get up the river to Para.”
A moment later the boys reached the shore of the cove and found Speake unloosening the cables.