Page:Anderson--Isle of seven moons.djvu/364

352 when the skipper threatened to put her in irons, or, if they could not be found on board, to lash her to the mast instead.

In the East the moon appeared as they neared the Cape.

"Looks like one of them gold coins of the treasure chest, balancin' itself there on the tree-tops, don't it now," remarked Benson, with his head on one side.

"They all roll away, when we chase 'em, they're that pesky—but, by, what's that! they're seven of 'em—red, too. What does that mean?"

"Where did you get it? I don't see no seven."

"That's the funny thing about it—I hain't had any licker—but I saw them seven—blood red, I'd swear it. But we're anchorin'.—Lend a hand there."

After the anchor chains had rattled out and the yacht had been moored, the boat slipped from her side to the shore. But they found only Linda cowering by the fire, Zeke Yeo with a broken head, and Spanish Dick swiftly patrolling the camp, and looking apprehensively into the massed shadows of the trees inland, from which some night bird or mocking voice hooted mournfully at them.