It was little wonder that he was amazed for, sweeping around a point at the extreme end of the island came boat after boat until they had counted twenty of them.
"I reckon that's what they've been waiting for," Mr. Lakewood said quietly. "I suspected it."
"What are we going to do?" Bob asked.
"We've got to get off before they reach us, that's all," his uncle replied a bit grimly.
The boats were about three miles distant when first sighted, and they knew that it would probably take them at least half an hour to reach the Valkyrie even if they came straight.
"They're going to land where the rest are first," Bob said a little later, as he saw the small boats swing in toward the shore.
"All of which helps us," his uncle smiled.
"Gee, but those fellows can paddle," Jack declared. "Look at them cut through the water."
When the boats were within a few hundred yards of the shore, a great shout of welcome rose from the crowd on the beach. As the leading boat struck the sands, a large native sprang out and quickly made his way through the excited crowd until he had reached the leader. Watching him as well as they could from the distance it seemed to the boys that the leader received the newcomer with a great show of respect. Followed a short period of conversation between the two, accompanied by many gesticulations and much pointing toward the Valkyrie.
"They mean us all right," Jack said grimly.