"Hey, fellows!" he cried. "Don't leave me. Help! He'll get me sure! Stay with me!"
His appeal touched the hearts of his chums.
"We can't leave him like that!" said Frank.
"No," panted Sammy. "We'll have to stay with him."
They slid along, unable at first to stop on the slippery ice, and then they slowly came to a halt. Turning, they went back to pick up Bob, but he had already scrambled to his feet, and was running after them.
"He isn't coming," said Frank, catching sight of the strange man, standing on the shore of the island, near where the boys had landed. "I guess he isn't going to chase us."
"It's a good thing, too," panted Bob.
"Why?" asked Frank, with a smile.
"Because if he'd come after me I'd have hit him with my skates; that's what I would!" boasted Bob.