He presently whispered to David, "I can't stand it, boy. You stay here, so the others won't suspect. I am going to look, if I can steal off without their knowing it. Don't you say that I'm gone."
"All right," said Dave. "Get back as quick as you can."
Joe began skipping stones lazily, and, moving slowly away from the rest of the party, disappeared behind some rocks, beyond which he dropped suddenly, and crept on hands and knees up the bank where the bushes were thickest.
Once out of sight of his companions, he arose and hurried out to the point on the cliff overlooking the prison-house of his two friends. There he crept carefully to the edge and looked over.
"Good! they are safe, and there's the boat."
"How are you there? All right?" he heard the mate of the wrecked vessel shout.
"All right! No, sir--not by a good deal. The water is still coming up," shouted Walter.
As the boat was pulled within speaking distance the frightened boys became more and more alarmed, it plunged about so wildly on the rough water; and they thought, perilous as their position was, it was preferable to a change to the boat.
"We'll drown getting into that skiff, Walt," said Ned, paler than ever at the dilemma.
"Yes, if there is any chance here, I would rather stay till the tide goes down; wouldn't you?"