"No? What will you do?"
"Oh, I"d like to know what the monster is made of."
"This investigating seems to be rather dangerous."
"And that makes it all the more fascinating. However, I think it will be well enough to give it a rest for the present."
"We"ll go back to the yacht?"
"Yes, and have some dinner. After dinner we can take another whirl at the monster. We must not stay away too long this time, or the people on the yacht will worry about us."
"What shall we tell them?"
"Nothing. It will not do to tell of this adventure."
"But this handkerchief about your head," said Bruce, who was tying it in place; "how will you explain that?"
"Fell and struck my head. I did fall, you know, and my head must have struck the ground down there in that bas.e.m.e.nt. We mustn"t let them press us too closely. If they get inquisitive, we must change the subject."
Thus it was arranged. When Frank first arose to his feet he was so weak that he found it necessary to lean on the arm of his companion, but his strength came to him swiftly, so that he was like himself before he had returned more than a third of the way to the _White Wings_.
Then of a sudden he remembered that he had dropped his rifle when he was struck down in the bas.e.m.e.nt, and he wanted to return for it at once.
Bruce objected at first, but Frank was determined, and he finally won.
They retraced their steps and boldly entered the building. Bruce followed Merriwell down the stairs into the bas.e.m.e.nt, holding his revolver ready for use while Frank lighted matches. Then they searched for the rifle, which Frank knew he held in his hand at the moment when he was struck down.
They could not find it, for it was not in the bas.e.m.e.nt, nor was it anywhere in the building.
The boys quickly decided that the rifle had been removed by human hands, but the mystery was just as deep.
Leaving the building, they did not immediately return to the _White Wings_, but made their way past the little cove, through the stunted cedars and over the rocks to a position where they could look down upon the boat that was lying close to the island sh.o.r.e.
As Frank had surmised, it was the lap-streak sailboat belonging to the c.o.c.k-eyed man. There was no one in or around it.
"Bruce," said Merry, "I have a proposal to make."
"Make it," grunted Browning.
"I have an idea that the person who owns that boat is concerned in the mysterious doings on this island."
"Well?"
"I am going to watch for him."
"When?"
"Now."
"You mean that you are not going back to the yacht?"
"Not right away."
"Then I shall stay with you."
"That will interfere with my plan."
"How?"
"If we stay away from the yacht very long it is certain to alarm the girls."
"It might."
"I want you to go back and tell them I have discovered signs of game here and have stayed to see if I can"t bag it. You need not say what sort of game. Then I want you to get Hodge and bring him with you, taking three of the guns and sufficient ammunition. As you will be going out for game, that will create no alarm. Leave Diamond and Dunnerwust to guard the girls and Miss Gale. I will remain here till you return, and you might bring me something for lunch. Tell them it is likely to take some time to bag our game, and caution them not to be alarmed if we do not return before nightfall."
"But I don"t like the idea of leaving you here alone," protested the big Yale man. "There is no telling what may happen."
Frank laughed softly.
"Don"t worry about me," he said. "I shall not venture into the old boarding house alone, and it is not likely I"ll not be able to defend myself here on open ground."
Bruce hesitated.
"How are you feeling now?" he asked.
"All right."
"Strong?"
"As ever."
"That crack on the head----"
"Oh, I am all over that now. Go on, old man, and don"t worry about me.
You know that, as a rule, Frank Merriwell is able to take care of himself."
"That is a fact," nodded Browning. "But you are not armed. Here, you must take this revolver."
He held the weapon out to Merry.
"But then you will not have a weapon."
"I am all right," declared Bruce. "I can handle two or three ordinary fellows without a gun."
Fully aware of the giant"s extraordinary strength, Frank knew he spoke the truth, and so he accepted the revolver.
"Now I have an idea," said Merriwell, "that you had better not return to the yacht by the path."
"Why not?"