"Hoop-a-la!" he cried joyfully. "Id vas Matt, himseluf! My olt bard, Modor Matt, alife und kicking like alvays! Matt, der sighdt oof you makes me so habby as I can'd dell!"
"Same here, old ship!" chimed in the voice of Dick, as he showed himself beside Carl.
Dick was armed with an old harpoon, and Carl carried a hatchet.
"You're a nice pair, I must say!" cried Matt. "The last order I gave instructed you to clear the propeller and sink the Grampus."
"The propeller is cleared, matey," said Dick; "but you wouldn't catch Carl and me going to the bottom of the cove in the Grampus until we had found out what became of you. We heard a couple of shots, and nothing could keep us from coming ashore, after that. Who did you mix up with?"
"Five savages. I don't know whether they live on the island, or whether they came from the river bank. Anyhow, I came front to front with them, and they were creeping in the direction of the boat."
"Den dey knowed der poat vas in der cove!" said Carl, casting a cautious look behind, in the direction of the valley. "Vas dere more as fife, Matt?"
"I don't know. Five are all I saw. We'd better get away from here as soon as we can, though, and get up the river to Para."
A moment later the boys reached the shore of the cove and found Speake unloosening the cables.
"All right, Matt?" called Speake.