"Here," answered Ned, "out here on the oyster reef."
The moon was near the zenith, and by carefully scanning the sea the boys could make out the figure of Ned, standing knee-deep in water, about fifty yards from shore. What to make of the situation they did not know.
"What are you doing out there, Ned?" cried Jack.
"I'm waiting for the tide to go down. Never mind me, but tell me about the fire. Did it burn the boat?"
"No, only the tar in the vat and our hut. The boat is safe, and so is the stockade."
"How did it catch fire?"
"Why, the squatters set it afire while we were out hunting for you."
"Have they been there, then?"
"Yes. Haven't they had you prisoner?"
"Not a bit of it. But don't stand there talking. Go back and take care of the camp. When the tide goes down I'll return. Hurry now, or those rascals will get in again and burn the boat."