The boys set out at once in pursuit of the thief, but he had too long a start, and perhaps, some knowledge of the locality, and after a vain hunt they straggled back to the boat without having found any trace of him.
"Well, that's the meanest thing yet," grumbled Pepper, looking at the overturned stove. "The oil has all run out and we can't cook any more," he went on, with so gloomy an expression that, in spite of their anger against Monkey Rae, the others could not help laughing.
CHAPTER VII
THE COLONEL
"What's the matter, boys?" said a cheery voice behind them, and they turned quickly to meet the smiling glance of a man who was sitting on a rock at the edge of the glade.
He was tall, erect, and of military bearing. Quick and alert, in spite of his snow-white hair and mustache.
"Why, Colonel Snow!" cried Jack in astonishment; "where did you come from?"
"Oh, I saw you some time ago as you were coming ashore," replied the colonel, "and I walked down to meet you. What's the trouble, the enemy been making an attack?"
"Looks that way," answered Rand. "Monkey Rae made a raid on the commissary and carried off the fish we had cooked."
"That's nothing to be concerned over," continued the colonel. "Why don't you cook some more?"