ts leading to
the water's edge where a boat had been grounded. These same footprints
were about the spot where the stolen boat had been launched.

"There's one queer person among them," said Lucile, after studying the
marks closely. "He limps; one step is long and one short, also one
shoe is smaller than the other. We'd know that man if we ever saw him."

"Listen!" said Marian suddenly.

Out of the silence that ensued there came the faint pop-pop-pop of a
motorboat.

"Behind the point," said Lucile.

"Our motorboat!" whispered Marian.

Without a word Lucile started down the beach, then up the creek. She
was followed close by Marian. Tripped by creeping vines, torn at by
underbrush, swished by wet ferns, they in time arrived at the point
where the motorboat had been moored.

"Gone!" whispered Lucile.

"We've been deceived and robbed," said Marian mournfully. "Deceived by
a boy. His companions left him swimming in the sea so we would find
him. As soon as we were asleep, he crept away and towed the schooner
down the river, then he flashed a signal and the others came in for
him. Probably Indians and half-breeds. They might have left us a
rowboat, at least!" she exclaimed in disgust.

With early dawn streaking the sky they sat down to consider. The loss
of their motorboat was a serious matter. They had but a scant supply
of food, and while their aunt might arrive at any moment, again she
might not. If she did not, they had no way of leaving the island.

"We'd better go down the beach," said Marian. "They might have engine
trouble, or something, and be obliged to land, then perhaps we could
somehow get our boat."

"It's the only thing we can do," said Lucile. "It's a good thing we
had our food supply in our tent, or they would have taken that."

"Speaking of food," said Marian, "I'm hungry. We'd better have our
breakfast before we start."

CHAPTER II

A BOLD STROKE REWARDED

Bacon grease was spilled and toast burned in the preparation of
breakfast, which was devoured in gulps. Then, with some misgivings but
much determination, the two girls hurried away up the beach in the
direction from whence had come the pop-popping of their stolen
motorboat.

Coming at last to the place where sandy shore was replaced by ragged
bowlders, they began making their way through the tangled mass of
underbrush, fallen tree-trunks and ferns, across the point of land
which cut them off from the next san