They had with them two of the pistols, but they realized that these weapons might prove of small use against any large beasts.
They looked around the vicinity of the spring, but nothing in the way of an animal showed itself. Not even a bird was in sight, and all was as quiet as the grave.
What to do next, the two boys did not know. If there were wild animals on the island, that might change matters very much, so far as they were concerned. They would have to keep on guard continually, and might even have to take some means of protecting themselves against attack.
“Do you suppose those beasts might be from the wreck of the Coryanda?” said Randy suddenly.
“It’s possible. That wreck might have come close enough for some of the animals to jump overboard and swim ashore. Or, the vessel may have struck the island and then gone to pieces and drifted away before we had a chance to see what happened.”
The boys discussed the situation and came to the conclusion that the best thing they could do would be to return to the camp and inform the others of what they had discovered.
“If there are any wild animals loose here, every one of our crowd ought to know it,” said Jack. “And the quicker we get the information to them the better.”
He and Randy turned back and made their way once more along the base of the rocks. It was now about two o’clock in the afternoon, and they hoped to return to camp well before dark, which, in that portion of the globe, came on suddenly.
The two cousins had passed along less than fifty yards when suddenly Jack held up his hand.
“Look, Randy! Look!” he whispered.