Page:Dave Porter on Cave Island.djvu/287

Rh deep cuts between. They had to climb over the rocks with extreme care and do not a little jumping, all of which consumed much valuable time.

"They'll be off before we can reach them!" groaned Dave. "Oh, do hurry, fellows!"

"I'm coming as fast as I can!" answered Phil.

"So am I," added Roger.

"You ought to shoot at them, if they won't stop," put in Merwell.

"I'll do what I can," answered our hero. He was wondering how far the present situation would justify the use of firearms.

At last the rocks were left behind, and the crowd found themselves in the fringe of palm trees lining the sandy shore.

"Do you see them?" queried Phil, who was getting winded from his exertions.

"No, I don't," returned Dave. He had looked up and down the sandy strip in vain for a sight of the Englishmen and Jasniff.

Beyond the beach was the reef with the ever-present breakers and far beyond this the ship they had before sighted. The schooner lay-to with all sails lowered.

"There they are!" suddenly shouted Billy Dill. "Too late, boys, too late!"

"Where? where?" came in a shout from the lads and from Giles Borden.