"They're dangerous, too. I've read about them. A bite from one of them means your finish."
There were fewer snakes on the rocky side of the island and, after they had made the circuit without seeing any sign of human life, the boys decided to make a landing.
"Seeing that motorboat leaving here makes me believe some one is around," declared Frank. "I won't be satisfied until I find out for sure."
"We won't stay here all night?"
"It all depends. If we're satisfied that the island is deserted, we'll leave; but if we think we haven't searched thoroughly enough, we'll stay and hunt around again to-morrow. It'll take a few hours to give the place a thorough going-over."
"How about the snakes? Won't it be dangerous staying here all night?"
"Oh, we'll find some place where they can't get at us. If the worst comes to the worst we can anchor the boat and stay in it."
This decided, after some search they discovered a small cove, well protected from the sea, that appeared to offer a good landing place. The cove had a narrow entrance between the rocks, but widened out into a small lagoon, with water deep enough to enable the boys to bring their boat up close to a wide shelf of rock. They anchored the Sleuth then clambered up onto the rock.
"Feels good to stand on solid footing again," Joe commented.
"I'll say it does. Well, let's be starting. Which way shall we go? Is it to be north or south?"