"Then I reckon we'd better get into our clothes."
"My sentiments exactly."
In less than two minutes they had slipped into their clothes and were out on deck. The sky was overcast and it was so dark that they could see but a short distance away from the boat.
"Let's go up forward," Bob said. "There ought to be someone on duty there."
The forward deck was illuminated with a single light, but it enabled them to see Pat, who stood close to the rail in an attitude of intentness.
"What is it?" Bob asked as they reached his side.
"Faith an' it's more'n I know."
It was too dark for them to see even the outlines of the island, but that something was going on close to the water's edge was evident from the confused sounds which reached them although faintly.
"There's some natives over there," Jack declared after listening intently for a moment.
"There's something fer a fact," Pat agreed.