“I know it, yet at the same time that is what causes the noise. She fell heavy when she struck, and has made a hole in the sand, where, most likely, the air is confined. Watch five minutes, and then if you’re not convinced I’ll give my head for a football. Don’t spend any more time than necessary, however, for we must help the little craft a bit.”
After some difficulty Vance was persuaded to join the committee on investigation, and while they kept their eyes fixed upon the yacht, Ned clambered on board by aid of the raft.
CHAPTER XIII.
AFLOAT.
It was not necessary for the boys to wait very long before the mystery was as plain to them as to Ned.
In a few moments a prolonged and particularly unearthly groan was heard, which began as the Zoe commenced to move seaward and ceased when she stopped.
There could no longer be any question in regard to the matter, and Roy said in a tone of the most intense relief:
“Well, that settles it. I had began to make a fool of myself, and am mighty glad it’s settled at last. If we had left the key without having discovered the cause of the noises, I’m afraid I should have been convinced so long as I lived that this island was haunted by the captain and mate of the Evening Star. What do you think now, Vance?”
“That we’ve been mighty silly. Almost anybody, except Ned, would have been frightened by such sounds when they knew there wasn’t a living thing on the key.”
“I might as well own up that I was in a pretty bad funk toward the last of it,” Ned replied with a hearty laugh. “That last screech came mighty near settlin’ me, an’ if I hadn’t happened to be standin’ close to the yacht when the next one came, I reckon I’d joined you in the tent. But now that the thing is settled, one of you come aboard with me an’ help haul in on the longest cable. The other must stay on the raft an’ do his best at drivin’ the wedges in when we take up the slack.”
Vance was on the Zoe’s deck almost before Ned ceased speaking, and the two tugged at the capstan until Roy shouted from the raft: