Though half drowned and seriously injured by the teeth of the dog, the intruder managed to make his way to the dark shore. When, a moment later, the boys looked for him he had disappeared in the thicket. Jule had blazed the way to the boat, and in a short time all the boys were on the stern deck or in the cabin.
There was no indication of a fresh attack from the shore, and when a single shot was fired, some distance away, the boys took that for a signal from one ruffian to his mate. One was now on the north side of Ruination creek and the other on the south side, and it would be some time before they could plan any more mischief together.
Clay looked at Jule’s face as he climbed to the platform and burst into a laugh. There was a good showing of phosphorus still in sight.
“Where did you get it?” he asked.
“No wonder that man hustled off into the woods!” Alex added.
“That didn’t frighten him a bit!” Jule explained. “He seemed to be wise to the trick. Anyway he would have been in charge here now if Captain Joe hadn’t risen to the occasion. Good old Captain Joe!” he continued, patting the dog on the head.
“We’d better be moving,” Clay said, presently, after Case and Frank had briefly explained the events of the night in the forest. “Those men will hang around us as long as we remain here.”
“But Frank wants to get his cargo!” Jule laughed.
“Indeed I do,” put in the boy.
“It seems to me,” Case suggested, “that Frank has already secured his cargo—a cargo of experience!”