By noon they were ready for the row back to Camp Hope, which was accomplished without incident. While Pompey cooked a bountiful dinner, the boys scrambled to a rocky peak near the hut.
“We’ll put up a flag here,� declared Raynor, “that will be visible from all sides of the island.�
This necessitated another trip to the schooner after the noon-day meal. The boys towed back an extra spar, which made a fine flagstaff. To it, before they set it up, they nailed the United States ensign upside down.
“Anyone seeing that will know there are shipwrecked mariners here,� declared Raynor when the job was finished.
“Well, dey kaint come too quick fo’ dis chile,� grinned Pompey.
But the weary days went by and no sign of aid came. They spent the time transferring all they could from the Polly Ann to the shore while the fine weather lasted, for the schooner was showing signs of breaking up, and the first gale would demolish her.
“If only there was some way of communicating with the outside world,� sighed Raynor one evening after supper, when they had all sat silent for a time. There was no need for anyone to ask the other what he was thinking of.
“Gee, yes,â€� exclaimed Noddy, “if only we had one of dem wireless chatter machines we—what’s de matter?â€� for Raynor had slapped his thigh loudly and sprung to his feet with a whoop.
“What a chump I am,� he fairly shouted.
“I know dat, but what’s de special occasion?� grinned Noddy.