THEY LOUNGED AROUND A CHEERFUL BLAZE.
Being accustomed to roughing it, none would have cared if they had been compelled to spend the night on the island, but Howard Fenton did not wish to worry his father by an unexpected absence. Therefore, when darkness began to approach, he asked Jim Havens to get the "Dart" ready.
They stayed, however, to finish their scanty meal, and then cleaned up, still hoping that the "Dauntless" would put in an appearance.
When Howard Fenton finally walked down to the water's edge, the tree tops were sighing noisily, and black, wild-looking clouds had risen above the top of the cliff. A sudden and rapidly growing darkness fell over the scene. It was apparent that the twilight would be very quickly blotted out.
"Guess we'll have a rough night of it," observed Bob.
"A downright stormy one," grumbled Dick. "Why don't those duffers come back?"
"We're in for a good ducking—that's what," put in Tom Clifton.
"I really have to get over to the shore, fellows," spoke up Fenton, earnestly. "My pater would imagine all sorts of terrible things."