Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-09

crystal, and you and Percy attend TO the job
while ] go back with Peter"
A sigh escaped Percy's lips as he thought
that all their hard work was not only to
count. for nothing, but that more was neces.
sary in the undoing of it; and then he clam.
bered out of the hole that he might fill il up
again.
How long before the vessel can get here?"
he asked of Peter.
About an hour"
"You have no time to lose. II the pirates
are on board, we will come back as soon as
we know 1t for certainty, and If You don't
hear anything of us after you have fixed
things, come up to the harbor."
AS he said this, Bob hurried away with
Peter as much depressed in spirits. as were
the other treasure seekers. They had sud.
denly been dashed from the height Of JOY
almost to the depths Of despair, and the
transition was as discouraging as it was pain
BY walking rapidly, the journey to the
east point of the island was made in com
paratively short time, and Bob saw that there
was no chance for doubt as to the truth OF
Peters statement.
The schooner was not more than two miles
off and making directly for the key. The
only thing which seemed at all favorable for
them was that the wind was dying away so
fast that it might be impossible for the ves-
sci to reach the harbor until evening.
Lets go on the other point" Bob adyis-
ed, after he had watched the e.,ss schooner for %
some moments in silence. I'VE shall be
nearer the boys there. and have a better
chance to get away when we are Obliged TO
run"
Where. are you going to hide when they
land?" Peter asked. anxiously.
II don't know. We will get to the south out
end of the key and run our chances of find
ing some place after dark"
"Then suppose go and tell the Others you
are certain the vessel is coming here, and
have them ready to meet you when you come
down the beach. One can get through the
underbrush without being seen easier than
four can"
"All right! Go on, and will stay here
until / can make out positively who they
are. Tell Percy and Dnd to get the fire built
as soon as they can, and to make large ONE
speaking. His short experience with the
pirates had been such painful one that he.
like Dudley. was anxious to have plenty OF
time in which to run away.
| Bob, standing well within the shadow OF
| the bushes that he might not be seen. kept
sharp watch of the little vessel, which was
now hardly moving through the water. He
could distinguish the forms of three men on
deck which would be the number OF the pi.
rates, if they had, as intended, left Launce on
| the mainland.
It seemed to the watcher an unusually long
| time before the smoke of the fire at the place
where the treasure had been almost dis
covered could be seen, and Bob breathed more
freely as it began to curl up from among the
| blackened trees.
Hardly had this evidence of Perey's work
appeared, when those on the schooner began
| lowering boat. for there was no chance that
the vessel could enter the harbor until the
breeze sprang up again. and Bob muttered to
himself as he stepped further into the shade
of the bushes:
"Gomez and his men are coming now, and
the only question for us to settle is. How
long can we keep clear of them?"
no BE CONTINUED NEXT SUNDAY