s sure to win in the race, he fired one
shot and the saurian disappeared beneath the surface of the water, shot
through the eye. Pat turned back to the _Manhattan_, but Ned directed
him to go on to the shore, find the boys, and return as quickly as
possible.

"And row back here before you go," continued Ned.

"And swim to the beach again?" called Pat, glancing cautiously about.
"Not on your whiskers!"

"Afraid of a little crocodile not more then forty feet long!" laughed
Frank, as Pat reached the beach and entered the boat.

"Here's the boat," Pat called, in a few moments, touching the bow of the
_Manhattan_. "What next!"

"I'm going with you and bring it back," Ned replied. "When you boys
reach the beach you'll have to call out. I'm going to take the
_Manhattan_ out farther."

"All right!" Pat said. "I think you need to after that shot!"

"And tell the boys," Ned went on, "that they'll have the chiefs of a
hundred tribes of dog-eaters after them if they don't get to the boat
right quick!"

"I guess that ought to bring them!" Frank said.

Ned accompanied Pat to the beach, brought the boat back, and then moved
the _Manhattan_ some distance out in the bay.

"Do you really think the boys are in danger?" asked Frank, after they
had settled down to a careful watch of the beach.

"They certainly are," was the reply.

"Do you think the chiefs are really on that island?"

"Yes; in fact, I am quite certain of it."

"Oh, a wild cat might have stirred up the monkeys," Frank said, hardly
believing the lame explanation of the disturbances which he was making.

Ned pointed off to the west.

"Look there," he said.

"Can't see a thing."

"Then take the glass," Ned said.

"Why," Frank said, "there's smoke over there on the west coast! Now,
what do you think of that? It wasn't there a few minutes ago."

"No," replied Ned. "It wasn't there a few minutes ago. It puffed up
while I was looking that way."

"It must be a steam launch," Frank observed.

"Of course," Ned replied, "and steam has been gotten up since that shot
was fired. Now do you understand?"

"I'm afraid I do," Frank replied. "And the steamer is coming around here
to see what's going on, and the native chiefs will be coming down to the
bay to look the situation over! Where do the boys come out?"

"They are in a dangerous position," Ned replied.

"I hope they'll get here before the steamer turns that point."

"They will have to return pretty soo