Page:The Great Secret.djvu/150

134 "That is so, comrade," assented Dennis, and together they set to work, their progress watched anxiously from the shore.

It took them a good half-hour to make the temporary raft, and when it was done they found that it would only carry one of them, but farther out, about sixty yards, they saw other objects floating, and toward these they directed their attention.

Again taking to the water, they pushed their raft in front of them, slowly and with great effort, resting on the spars when tired, until they reached the second layer of rocks. On these several seals, who were resting, watched their approach with alarmed interest, until satisfied that these were dangerous strangers. They flopped rapidly under the surface, leaving their perches to the invaders.

They had been over an hour traversing those sixty yards, and were chilled to the very heart as they reached the rocks, yet they did not pause longer than to stretch themselves and swing their arms about before they began to collect the packages and other flotsam, and lash them together.

"The tide is on the turn, Anatole. We shall get back more quickly than we came," cried Dennis, as they secured the last package and tested their raft, which was at last solid enough to carry them.

They had also a couple of planks which they could use as oars. Then with a covetous look at some other articles, which floated still further away, they began the return journey.

The tide had indeed turned, and was rushing in swiftly between the rocks, which rendered their labour comparatively easy as they floated back. The strip of sand where their companions had been left was nearly