The boys put in nearly a week in hunting, fishing, swimming, and lying around, and they enjoyed every minute of the time.
Nothing had been seen or heard of the hermit who was supposed to inhabit the island, and they began to think that no such person existed.
Neither had they heard anything more of Si Peters and his crowd, and they fancied they were safe from molestation.
Sunday passed quietly, and on Monday morning Jerry proposed they take along a game bag full of provisions and climb to the top of the rocky hill in the centre of the island.
“We must go to the very top before we leave,” he said.
The game bag was filled with eatables, and cups, plates, etc., and then they tied up the tent flaps and drew the boat still higher up out of the water.
The first quarter of a mile of the journey was easy enough, but after that they struck the rocks, and climbing became more and more difficult with every step.
“Phew! but dis am work!” puffed Blumpo. “Dis boy’s most tucked out!”
“We’ll take a good long rest at noon, Blumpo,” said Harry.
Up and up they went until Jerry, who was in advance, came to a sudden halt. A deep split in the rocks barred his further progress.