ged with meadow brush.

"Of course you will go with us," said Martin, as he sprang out.

"If you wish," replied Ralph. "Otherwise, I can remain here until your
return."

"No; come along, by all means," put in Toglet. "We want you to show us the
points of interest, you know--those high cliffs and the big ravines."

"All right, sir. Just wait till I make everything secure."

Ralph at once set to work, and inside of five minutes he was ready to
accompany the two men. He had found them quite agreeable on the trip and
never for an instant did he dream of the foul plot that they were expecting
to carry out.

Ralph offered to carry the game-bags, but this offer was declined. So, with
nothing in his hands but a thin stick he had picked up on the bank, he led
the way away from the sloop and up among the rocks that formed the base of
the mountain of which the island was composed.

"It's the best kind of a place for the work," whispered Martin to Toglet,
as they trudged on behind Ralph. "Not a soul will guess the truth after the
deed is done."

"Don't let the boy suspect, or he will be on his guard," was the low reply.
"He looks as if he could show fight if he wished."

"We'll take him unawares, and then----"

"There's a good shot!" cried Ralph, pointing to a number of wild water
fowls, which just then arose from a hollow close by.

He fully expected one or the other of the men to take hasty aim and fire,
but neither did so.

"We'll wait for something better," said Martin.

"We'll take a look around before we begin to waste our powder," put in
Toglet.

In truth, neither of them had come to do any shooting. They were afraid
that a shot might attract attention should other sportsmen be in the
vicinity.

Ralph was rather disappointed. Had he had a gun he could easily have
brought down one or more of the fowls. He considered it a most excellent
chance lost--a chance that might not occur again that day.

Still it was not his place to pass any remark concerning the decision of
his two passengers, so he remained silent, and plodded along over the rocks
and through the brush, until, half an hour later, he came out on a grassy
plateau overlooking a magnificent stretch of water.

"Here we are at the top of one end of the mountain," he said. "You can see
a good many miles from here."

"That's so," said Martin. "What is below at the base of this cliff?"

"Rocks and water," returned Toglet, as he peered over. "It must be