The Go Ahead Boys on Smugglers' Island

he little Japanese servant. He stared blankly at the

one here?" i

Japanese was anoth

manner of the little man; but the sole response of the

anyway," su

they were within the familiar room they glanced hastily abou

"Hush! Listen, Jack! That's

which now could be heard from the upper room. Gradually the captain's voic

rted from the house. Apparently he had been unaware of the presence of either of the boys. He had glanced neither to t

ohn, "he'll have to

hat he would wait,"

ait," retorted John. "Th

k the best thing to do would be for one of us t

ay here if you want to and I'll go down to t

t, who apparently ignored his presence save occasionally when he stopped

d, however, before John cam

and left the island!" he said exc

ess not,"

s rowing like mad. He has take

, abruptly rising and accompanying his fri

n, when they arrived on the bluff. "The boa

tion along the shore, and then peered intently out over the

ohn. "That's strange and I tol

k again," said

responded John. "I'm no

rsisted Fred. "Come on now, we

ered the kitchen, the little Japanese servant, who me

ere was really no explanation for their presence in the house. At the same time they were both watching the waters of

ives here?" finally Fred

but shook his head to impl

said John in a low voice to Fred. "This is getti

was at pains to speak in subdued tones. Turning once more to the Japa

of laughter. Either he did not understand what was said, or he t

to the shore,"

d together the two boys at once

s their own boat gone, but the boat in whi

f that?" demanded J

ered Fred, genuinely surprise

other after all," said John. "The

puzzled by the failure to discover any of the b

o wait. They must know we're here and there's no way

t," said John, "and tha

sun sank below the western horizon. Darkness would soon be

aid Fred soberly. "I thought sure

arted that I didn't believe he would come back. I don't half believe we

without making any reply he looke

e at hand. "There's nothing for it," said Fr

to go if you want to. This is the strangest thing I have ever b

said Fred, striving

on't like the look of the whole thing. I

ef time the boys were standing

ime, faced them as they entered. This time he did not greet their coming with his usual loud laughte

e continued his pretense, for he shook his h

nce. Either they were mistaken, or he had changed his plan for now he busied himself in h

by what they were certain was the voice of a

woman, "did you let

y and a low conversation between him and the woman who had called him fo

in tones that the boys plainly heard. "Tell them to g

is companion. It was plain to each that the other was now seriously perplexed. However, a few minutes later, the Japan

ark it is?" whisp

ars to be seen in the sky and the wind as it whistled about the corne

last they arose, one of them took some money from his

pocket. No language was required for the transaction and it w

ed Fred. "Perhaps one of the boats has come

doomed to disappointment. Not a boat was to be seen in the dim light. Nor was any light to be

and there isn't any boat

we do?" in

to them why we haven't left, and I don't believe that woman, even if she didn't want us to see her, will tu

way and started back toward the little house which now itself was wrapped in darkness.