But Frank was gazing down the steep, sandy slope.
"There's something queer about this," he said slowly. "There are two men down there, lying on the sand."
Joe and Chet, immediately interested, came running over. The three boys looked down at the two figures on the beach far below.
"They're not asleep," said Joe. "One of them seems to be rolling around."
"They're tied!" shouted Frank. "Look! You can see the ropes! I was wondering what was so queer about them. Those men are tied hand and foot!"
Joe was examining the embankment at their feet.
"Why, they've been rolled down the side!" he exclaimed. "Look where the sand has been disturbed!"
True enough, sand and gravel at the top of the slope showed a distinct depression, and all the way down the embankment this depression continued, as though a heavy object had slid to the bottom.
From the beach below came a faint shout.
"Help! Help!"