"We'll have to wait until morning," said Mr. Rover, and was about to go down to the deck when something attracted his attention. It was a strange shaft of light shooting up from along the trees in the center of Treasure Isle.
"A searchlight!" he cried. "Somebody is on shore, and it must be Merrick with his crowd." And this surmise was correct, as we already know.
CHAPTER XXIV
A MISSING LANDMARK
The searchlight was watched with interest for fully quarter of an hour. It was, of course, visible only now and then, but from the shafts of light seen, those on the steam yacht were certain somebody was moving from the north side of the isle to the location of the treasure cave.
"We ought to head them off, if possible," declared Anderson Rover. "Should that be Merrick's crowd and they meet my sons there will surely be trouble!"
"Let us go ashore without delay!" said Songbird, who was sorry he had not accompanied the Rover boys.
"That's what I say!" added Fred. "We can take plenty of lights."
"I vos not von pit sleepy," declared Hans. "I go kvick, of you said so, Mr. Rofer."
"If yo' go, don't forgit Aleck!" pleaded the colored man.