Page:Barbour--Joan of the ilsand.djvu/82

 RESSING hurriedly, with a perplexed frown on his forehead, Keith hunted in the living-room for the binoculars he had seen Joan using, and passed out on to the veranda. Then he levelled the glasses at the reef and its visitors. At that distance he could not distinguish individuals clearly, but there was no doubt that diving was in active progress.

He was standing, his eyes glued to the schooner, when there came a light step on the veranda and Joan stood by his "side.

"It is Moniz, I fancy," she said quietly, as the man handed the binoculars to her.

"Beyond a doubt," Keith replied. "I don't suppose he knows the Kestrel is away yet, but he'll soon tumble to that."

"Chester won't be back until to-morrow at the earliest," the girl said.

Keith rubbed his chin reflectively.

"That is so," he agreed. Then: "There's a whaleboat drawn up on our beach," he added. "Is she seaworthy?" 70