e corned beef.

"Hum! I guess you can't be very hungry, or you wouldn't take your
time," retorted the younger lad. "Hurry up with those crackers. And
there's some jam, somewhere. Oh, for a cup of hot coffee."

"Cheese it!" cried Frank sharply. "Do you want to make me throw
something at you? But what were you trying to say when you had your
mouth full a while ago?"

"I said it was a wonder that man didn't take this grub with him when he
took our boat and the _Gull_."

"I don't know. Maybe he couldn't find the food. But what makes you
think he took our boats?"

"They're gone; aren't they?"

"Yes, but I think the tide carried away the small boat. The waves came
up unusually high, as you can see by the marks in the sand. We didn't
pull the skiff up far enough."

"What about the _Gull_?"

"Well, I admit he might have taken that, though there is a possibility
that it dragged the anchor. We'll take a look all around the island
after we get things in shape. If we've got to stay here a while we
might as well be comfortable."

"I don't believe we'll stay very long."

"Why not?"

"Because dad will start out and search for us if we don't get home
pretty soon, and the first place he'll head for will be this island."

"Guess you're right. Pass the jam. My! but this tastes good!"

"Good! I should say so!" agreed Andy.

They made a rude but substantial breakfast, washing it down with plenty
of spring water which they found a little way inland. Then they talked
matters over.

The first thing to do, they agreed, was to look for the _Gull_, and to
this end they once more ascended the cliff and looked all about. She
was not in sight, nor was there any other craft on the waters that now
sparkled in the sunlight, for the storm had passed away.

"The next thing to do is to make another circuit of the island," went
on Frank. "We'll do it as quickly as we can, and perhaps we can come
upon our boat. It may have drifted ashore."

Together they started off. They planned to keep up the search all day,
taking their lunch with them, and camping out at night, as they had
done before.

"But first we'll hoist a distress signal, in case dad comes for us, and
we'll leave a note saying where we have gone and that we'll come back,"
suggested Frank.

This was done. They tied one of their coats to a tall tree well up on
the cliff, where it could be seen by a boat coming from the direction
of Harbor View. Then, l