"Well, perhaps it isn't," agreed Frank, "but it wasn't right for you to shut us in the cave, either. However, we will give you something to eat, if you promise not to attack us if we loose your hands."
"Loosen only one hand, and don't trust him," whispered Andy.
"Oh, I suppose I've got to promise," grumbled the man. "I'm half starved."
"So am I," remarked Andy to his brother. "Let's quit searching now, and go for grub. We have plenty of it at our camp, and we can bring it here. Guess we'd better camp here, too. It's a better place, and we can't move him down very well."
To this Frank agreed, and they soon had their food moved to the new location. They looked well to the bonds of the prisoner before leaving him, even for a few minutes. Then, when a fire had been built, and some food prepared, they loosened the ropes from one of his hands so that he might feed himself. Andy and Frank were seated in front of him, eating, when Andy happened to turn around.
He saw that the man had in some manner, secured possession of a piece of heavy driftwood. This club he was raising to bring down on the head of Frank, who was nearest to him. There was no time to call out, for the stick was already descending, and Andy did the next best thing.
With a quick shove of his foot he sent his brother sprawling over on his side in the sand, while the club came down harmlessly, but only a few inches away.
CHAPTER XXVIII
BUILDING A RAFT
"What was the matter?" gasped Frank, somewhat dazed, as he crawled away and sat up. "Why did you shove me over?"