“I get you,” Kentucky came back again. “All okay?”
“Yes. Only we miss our boat. We—” Just then Stew heard Blackie break in. “Kentucky, there is a light. Must be Ted. I’m putting on my landing lights. Going down.”
“We’ll be right over you,” Kentucky assured him.
Stew understood it all, and was silent, even at a time when he wanted terribly to talk. And so, as he listened, the minutes ticked themselves away, and once again his radio went dead. Far away, Kentucky was thinking, “I wish Stew had talked straight. I think he meant he was on the biggest of those three islands, and on this end of it. But how’s a fellow to be sure?”
CHAPTER XVIII
LUCK, PALS, AND PROVIDENCE
Scarcely had Jack seated himself beside the slim girl in the shadows away from the campfire when she whispered:
“I hoped you’d come. I have something tremendously important to show you. First you must play for these people, for they love it.”
At that she clapped her hands and at the same time gave a sharp exclamation. Some native word, thought Jack. He was startled by this sudden turn of affairs.
The natives were on their feet in an instant. Three brown warriors, doubtless misunderstanding the call, seized their spears.
Like figures done in bronze, with the firelight playing on their dark faces, these three stood there, silent and alert, ready for action, as the girl said a few words to them in their own language. Then the men relaxed and a low murmur ran round the campfire.