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Rh Cuban pirates, or some other criminals, on this island, who sneaked around when we were inland, and took the launch and yacht."

"But they'd have to overpower Captain Barton and the crew to do such a thing," objected Frank Bender.

"Well, that's possible," argued Dick, "especially if they sneaked up on the Albatross in the launch. Captain Barton and the others, seeing the yacht's launch approach, wouldn't suspect anything until it was too late. I'm afraid something serious may have happened to them. Did you notice any signs of pirates, or other desperate characters, on the island since you have been here?" asked Dick, of the young Cuban.

"No, senor, but then I did not explore this place much. I was too full of grief. I merely erected a signal on the other side of the island, and was coming to do the same here, when I met you."

There was silence for a few minutes, while the grim, dismal fact that they were marooned on a lonely and seldom-visited island, sank deeper into the minds of the young millionaire and his chums. They gazed helplessly across the stretch of ocean, which was fast becoming covered with a haze, added to which the falling darkness made it impossible to make out objects more than a short distance away.

"Well, what's to be done?" asked Beeby at