“I am pretty skeptical. Any one of a thousand things might have happened to it since Captain Walters left.�
In an hour’s time the schooner had been brought as close in to the island as they dared, for those unknown waters might be filled with saw-toothed reefs and rocky shoals. Snow lay in the abysses between the steeply sloping rocky hills that made up the interior of the island. Scanty shrubs with dark foliage found a precarious growth in patches. Sea birds rose in clouds as the schooner’s anchor roared down, and flew screaming in anger or astonishment about the invader of their solitude.
“Come on, boys,� cried Uncle Toby, “who’s for the honor of being the first ashore.�
Of course there was a scramble. Raynor sought and obtained permission for Noddy Nipper to be one of the party. It would have broken the Bowery boy’s heart to have been left behind. Mr. Terrill, however, to their astonishment, did not appear inclined to go ashore. He said he had a bad headache and would lie down.
“Very well, we’ll do the prospecting for you, eh, boys?� said Uncle Toby heartily; but Jack flashed a suspicious look at Terrill as he turned and went below. Then some instinct prompted him to whisper to Raynor. The boys also sought the cabin. When they came back, their arms were full of bundles.
“What are those for,� inquired Cap’n Toby.
“Oh, just by way of setting up housekeeping ashore,� returned Jack with a laugh.
“I can’t spare any of my men right now to row you ashore,� said Jarrow, the squint-eyed mate, “but you can take along Merryweather and Sherry.�
The two revenue cutter men, who had been doing odd jobs with the crew since their rescue, were only too glad to go along. Soon the boat was lowered and everything ready for the landing.
“There’s something suspicious about all this to me,� whispered Jack to Raynor as they cast off.