To keep off the wild animals they built a large camp fire, and at this cooked some of the meat they had brought along from the cave.
Bob's ankle was cared for several times during the evening, and the youth declared that it now felt much better.
They took turns watching during the night, yet little came to disturb them. Once Dave heard a wild animal approaching and brought up the rifle, ready to fire on the instant. But the fire made the beast keep his distance, and he finally slunk away without showing himself.
Both boys were up at daybreak, and Bob declared that he would try to walk upon his foot, at least as far as the seacoast.
A quarter of an hour's climb took them to the top of the hills, and here they took a good look at the beach and the ocean spread out before them.
Not a sign of the Swallow was to be seen anywhere.
This was disheartening, and Dave's heart sank.
Were they really deserted?
"We can't see all of the beach from here," said Bob, encouragingly. "See, yonder patch of wood hides a good stretch from view. The Swallow may be behind that. And even if she has gone off, remember that Pete Rackley was to disable her so that she would have to put back for repairs."
"And so far as he was concerned, I might have starved in the meantime," added Dave, bitterly.