t Dick slept soundly, but even the eldest Rover
was benefited by the additional rest.

The first work in the morning was to skin the wild beast. This was
rather a difficult task since no one had had any experience, outside
of the Rover boys, on small game. Old Jerry said he would try a steak
cut from the best part of the the animal, but when he did he said it
was too tough to eat. Then the carcass was dragged away and flung
into a hole between the rocks.

After breakfast, the men and boys began in earnest to place the stores
brought to the beach in the cave. It was hard work getting the boxes
and barrels up the incline to the mouth of the cave, and the work
took until the middle of the afternoon. Once at the entrance, the
stores were speedily shifted to the chamber previously mentioned,
and covered again with the tarpaulin. With the stores were placed a
cask of fresh water, some dry pine torches and a box of matches.
Captain Blossom left a gun and some ammunition in the cave, and the
Rover boys added two pistols and a couple of swords taken from the ship.

"Now we will re-arrange the entrance to the cave as it was before,"
said Dick. "Then the sailors will never suspect what we have done."

By sunset the work was over and all hands were back at the house,
taking it easy. Supper was ready, but they waited hard an hour,
thinking that Baxter, Lesher, and their party would put in an appearance
at any moment.

"I reckon they aren't coming just yet," said Captain Blossom, at
length. "Let us wait no longer."

"I'm willing," said Tom. The extra work had sharpened his appetite
wonderfully.

The evening passed quietly and soon one after another retired. As
agreed, the camp-fire was left burning, and each took his turn at
remaining on guard.

In the morning it was Dora who made an announcement that startled
all of them. The girl had taken Captain Blossom's spyglass and was
looking across the bay in the direction of the wreck.

"There are men on board of the _Golden Wave_" she announced. "I can
see them quite plainly."

"Men on board of the wreck!" cried Dick. "Are you sure, Dora?"

"Look for yourself, Dick."

The youth did so and saw that Dora was right. Half a dozen figures
could be seen walking to and fro.

"Who are they?" asked Tom. "Lesher and his crowd?"

"That I can't make out," answered Dick, and handed over the glass to
his brother.

All could see the men on the wreck, but at such a distance it was
imp