An hour after sunrise the keel of the Isobel scraped upon the sands of the shallow cove which indented the western shore of this unknown island that was to be the refuge of the Corner House girls and their friends.
There was still a wide stretch of calm water between the prow of the motor-boat and the low-water mark. The boys could force the craft no nearer land with their oars.
“How do we land?” Agnes demanded. “We can’t fly. And this water looks as though it were waist deep.”
“Oh, for a bathing suit!” murmured Ruth.
Neale had quickly retired to the cabin while the other members of the party were discussing the difficulty that confronted them. Luke had sat down to pull off his shoes and stockings and prepare to wade ashore, when the younger youth reappeared.
“I declare!” exclaimed Agnes. “He has got his bathing suit. How did you ever think to bring it, Neale O’Neil?”
“Never know when it may rain,” chuckled her friend. “Now I’m going to drop over the bow, and I’ll take you ashore first, Aggie, if you want me to.”
“I don’t know about that,” objected Agnes. “We don’t know what may be lurking in that jungle. The hill around the foot of that big palm is clear, I know. But that thicket between us and the hill——”
“What do you think will hurt you?” Luke demanded. “There are no wild animals in these islands. Not even snakes, I am told.”
“Just the same, I’ll wait till you are ready to carry Ruth, Luke,” said Agnes decidedly. “We can wait together on the shore while you bring over the children and Mr. Howbridge.”