For fully two hours the party of five moved slowly along the rocky shore, inspecting every foot of the way for some hidden trail by which they might get to the bowl encircled by the thirteen rocks.
“There might be an opening behind that bunch of vines,” remarked Andy, presently. “It looks as if there were some sort of opening there.”
They had brought with them several long-handled boathooks, and by means of these they managed to make a landing on the rocks, and Randy and Fred climbed to the point where the vines mentioned were growing. Here they found an opening several yards in depth, inhabited by numerous sea birds that flocked forth in much astonishment.
“There is an opening,” shouted Randy, after throwing the rays of the searchlight around, “but it doesn’t lead to anything. It’s just a blind pocket.”
After this the search was continued for another hour, and the boys visited two other places along the rocky barrier. One was thickly matted with vines, and here they found the foothold very uncertain, and Jack and Fred, who were doing the climbing, came close to tumbling down into the ocean.
“Doesn’t look as if there was any sort of an opening around here,” came dolefully from Andy. He was sorry that he could not do some of the climbing himself, but he knew that he had to take care of his hurt ankle or that member might become so bad that he could not use it at all.
“We won’t give up yit!” cried Ira Small. “I’m goin’ to git down in that circle of rocks if I’ve got to stay behind on the island all alone!”
“Oh, we wouldn’t dream of going off without you, Small,” answered Randy, quickly.
“Well, I ain’t goin’ to leave till I’ve made a search,” answered the old tar, stubbornly. “That thing’s been in my mind fur five years, an’ I ain’t goin’ to give up now when I know where them rocks are located.”
“Maybe we’ll have to get an airship in which to get down into the bowl,” said Andy, making a wry face.