"Walter Brown says not. Very funny how he disappeared right after the accident."
"Certainly is—and never told any one where he was going. Left a lot of stuff at the hotel, too."
"Perhaps he's off in the mountains somewhere," suggested Tom. "The searching party never found a trace of either Howard or the 'Dauntless.'"
"A terrible thing—indeed it was."
For a while the boys lapsed into gloomy silence.
Presently Sam rose to his feet and peered earnestly in the direction of the islands.
"Hello!" he exclaimed. "Tom, do you see anything?"
"Of course I do. A light—a light on Promontory. Now what in the dickens can that be?"
A tiny spot of light, seemingly suspended in the air, had suddenly appeared in view, steadily growing brighter until it looked like a blazing beacon.
"Maybe the old log cabin is afire. I'll bet that's just what it is," said Sam. "Christopher, where's the field-glass?"