"If we get there in time we may be able to save him," returned Frank. "Of course, it's ten chances to one that he was killed by the fall."
They reached the rocks of the shore at last, Frank and Joe in front, Chet and Biff stumbling breathlessly along behind. The boys raced down the beach toward the base of the cliff from which Captain Royal had fallen. It was invisible to them from where they were, but as they skirted a ledge of rock they saw the steep wall of the precipice.
It descended to a raging foam of angry waters, where the surf beat among the black pinnacles of rock projecting from the sea at the base of the cliff.
"He hasn't a chance in the world," declared Chet, when he viewed the gloomy scene.
Fog hung over the shore, and through it loomed the black cliff and the cruel rocks. They could see no sign of Captain Royal in the waves.
However, the boys hastened on toward the base of the cliff, approaching as near as they dared. Frank scanned the water in vain for a glimpse of a bobbing figure being cast in toward the shore.
"He wouldn't live ten seconds in that sea!" declared Biff, with conviction.
"I'm afraid you're right, Biff," replied Frank sadly. "I guess we'll never see the poor old chap again."
"Pretty tough," said Chet. "After all, he didn't know what he was doing. He was just crazy. He should have been somewhere in a place where his friends could look after him."
"And now," put in Joe, "we'll probably never know if he was Todham Todd or not."