“Take off your boots, Chet,” said Joe, with a feeble attempt at a joke. “You can have your chance at eating them now.”
This effort fell flat. The boys were in no mood for jesting now. The loss of their food supplies was a serious matter.
“I wonder who could have done it,” said Chet.
Frank shrugged.
“Looks like some of Hanleigh’s work.”
“But why would he try to steal our supplies? What good would that do him? Perhaps it was only some sneak thief who chanced in here and saw a chance to make a good haul.”
“Perhaps. But I imagine it was Hanleigh. He knew we were here.”
“Wants to get us off the island,” remarked Joe. “Perhaps he figured that if he stole our food, we’d have to clear out.”
“We’ll show him.”
“But in the meantime,” moaned Chet, “I’m hungry.”