Removing their shoes, coats and waistcoats, the lads flung themselves down on the bed. Sandy, after mumbling a few sleepy comments on the strange place in which they found themselves, dropped off into profound slumber. Jack, in a pleasant sort of half-waking, half-sleeping doze, remained alert some minutes longer.
It was just as he was dropping off to sleep in good earnest that he thought he heard a queer noise at the door.
"It sounds as if some one had locked it on the outside," he muttered drowsily.
He started to arouse himself to investigate; but in the very act of summoning his drowsy faculties the boy's weariness overcame him. His tired limbs mutinied, his eyes closed, and he was off to dreamland as soundly as Sandy.
Hardly had he dozed off, when from the woods through which their guide had conducted them a short time before, Walstein and Dampier and two of the crew of the tug emerged. They had left Rangler in charge of the craft, with instructions to cruise in the vicinity and see if he could make out any trace of the fugitives. They themselves had made for the abandoned light-house to organize a thorough search of the island.
As they drew near to the light, the man who had entertained Jack and Sandy emerged from the door.
"Hullo, there, Bill Barkentin," hailed Walstein. "What's the news?"
"What's yours?" grumbled the man ungraciously, in much the same manner he had addressed the boys.
"The same old bear," laughed Dampier. "How is our prisoner getting along?"
"He's as obstinate as ever," was the grumbled reply. "Won't tell a thing about the government's plans in regard to us."