But before they could come up to the schooner she disappeared around a headland of the island.
"We must run out a bit," said Captain Parsons. "There is a nasty reef here, and if we aint careful we'll get aground."
"Where do you suppose the Peacock has gone?" asked Dick.
"Into one of the bays, most likely."
"Can we follow her?"
"Of coarse. The tug doesn't draw any more water than the schooner, if as much."
"Perhaps we had better see how the land lays before we approach too close," suggested Peterson. "They may be prepared to fight us off."
"That is true," said Dick. "Perhaps we can slip into another bay close by."
So it was arranged, and they sped on their way, passing the bay in which the Peacock lay.
Near the island was a quantity of driftwood, and they had just gotten out of sight of the bay when there was a sudden grinding and crashing sound on board of the tug, and the engineer shut off the steam power.