“I’ve got something almost as good,” answered our hero, and took from his pocket a little electric flashlight—one of the kind that emits a tiny flash of light when the button at the end is pressed.
“Good enough! That’s first-rate!”
The pair were soon down from the rocks. Under the palm trees it was now dark, and Dave used the electric flashlight to advantage.
“Here are footprints!” he cried, presently. “Six pairs! That shows that at least a half dozen persons came ashore in that boat. Those six may have been carrying others.”
“I don’t know, Roger. If Merwell and Jasniff were around I’d like to surprise them. If they discovered us first, and they had the jewels, they’d surely hide the gems and then say they didn’t have them.”
“I believe that, Dave. Well, let us follow the footsteps and see where they lead to.”
“Another thing. Do you remember those Englishmen? They may be on this island, and if so, I’d rather steer clear of them.”
“So would I, they were so disagreeable—all but that one chap, Borden.”
The trail led among the palm trees and then up a rise of ground where grew a number of bushes. Here the boys had to proceed more slowly, for fear of missing the way.