oys tramped nearly two miles around the island. They took
their guns with them and came back with their game bags full of birds.
Returning, they were thoroughly tired out, but nevertheless resolved to
set a watch.

"Four hours each," said Harry, and this was agreed to.

But nothing happened to disturb them, and on the following night the watch
was abandoned.

The boys put in nearly a week in hunting, fishing, swimming, and lying
around, and they enjoyed every minute of the time.

Nothing had been seen or heard of the hermit who was supposed to inhabit
the island, and they began to think that no such person existed.

Neither had they heard anything more of Si Peters and his crowd, and they
fancied they were safe from molestation.

Sunday passed quietly, and on Monday morning Jerry proposed they take
along a game bag full of provisions and climb to the top of the rocky hill
in the centre of the island.

"We must go to the very top before we leave," he said.

The game bag was filled with eatables, and cups, plates, etc., and then
they tied up the tent flaps and drew the boat still higher up out of the
water.

The first quarter of a mile of the journey was easy enough, but after that
they struck the rocks, and climbing became more and more difficult with
every step.

"Phew! but dis am work!" puffed Blumpo. "Dis boy's most tucked out!"

"We'll take a good long rest at noon, Blumpo," said Harry.

Up and up they went until Jerry, who was in advance, came to a sudden
halt. A deep split in the rocks barred his further progress.

"Will we have to go back?" asked Harry, anxiously.

"It looks like it."

"Can't we leap over?"

"We might try. I can, if you are willing to follow."

"I kin jump dat easy enough," put in Blumpo.

Jerry stepped back, and running a few feet, made the leap in safety. Harry
followed, and then both boys waited for Blumpo Brown to join them.

The homeless youth measured the distance with his eye and came on like a
steam engine.

But just before he reached the edge of the split he slipped and went
headlong. Unable to stop himself, he crashed down into the opening head
first.

In going over the rocks he twisted himself partly around.

With one hand he caught hold of a frail bush growing among the rocks.

His left foot caught in a crevice, and there he hung, unable to help
himself, and with death staring him in the face!

CHAPTER XIV.

THE HERMIT OF THE ISLAND.

"He'll be