"I can't understand this," said Chet. "We heard them leave the cove a little while ago. Now they're away down the shore and going slow."
"Perhaps they're having engine trouble," said Biff mournfully.
"I can't figure it out at all. It's tough to be sitting here in the dark, not knowing whether they've got away or not."
"I don't dare let myself think they haven't got away," declared Biff, with determination.
An hour passed. The sounds of the motorboat had long since died away. Once in a while the chums heard voices back in the grove and they knew that at least some of the gangsters had been left on the island. Whether the others had left in pursuit of the Hardy boys, they could not tell. Had they known of the Hardys' coup in taking the gangsters' two boats they would have felt more relieved in mind. The chill of approaching morning had settled over the island, and they huddled together in the shelter of the rock, seeking warmth.
Suddenly, from the sea, they heard the steady chug-chug of a motorboat that seemed to be progressing slowly along in close proximity to the shore. They looked out and they could see a headlight slowly moving through the darkness.
"It's a motorboat, but it's traveling very slowly," said Chet.
"Let's take a chance and hail them."
"It might be some of the gang."
"That's right. But we can go down closer to the shore and see. It may be Frank and Joe looking for us."