"I am chief, and I command that this be done," said the chief.
Twenty or thirty of the members, as Richard judged by the voices, protested against the scheme; but the measure was ordered in spite of this opposition.
"Is there a traitor here?" demanded the chief.
"Not one," replied the members.
The chief then urged the necessity of using strong measures. He pointed out the danger of permitting Grant to remain in the school; and the plan would insure his expulsion. But still the intractable ones objected, and their names were ordered to be given. As they were announced, Mr. Gault, aided by faith rather than sight, wrote them down on the back of some letters he had in his pocket. The business was finished, and it was proposed to establish a watch on the island for the night.
"We must go," whispered Richard; and he crawled off, followed by Mr. Gault.
They reached the water without being discovered, and embarked in the rubber boat.
"If they place sentinels on the watch, the colonel's plan will be defeated," said Mr. Gault.
"What is his plan?"
"To get all the boats away from them, and keep them on the island till they have had enough of it."