The Hilltop Boys on Lost Island

captain, the former assuring the boys that there was no great danger, for the yacht was equipped with a wireless s

ooks upon the faces of many of the boys, "and as soon as we get away from here we will

, and took Dick and young Smith with him to th

ount of its windings, the hills preventing them from getting a view of th

of rocks on both sides, the outer bay being of considerable size, but

uld be exposed to the force of the surf that dashed over the latter and Jack prese

ere not the most unlikely thing in the world that there should be one there. If any o

ack," said Dick. "It looks too big for a fla

e gone ashore there, and show the stump of a mast above water.

nd of one, and carried right over the reefs without scratching, and then the for

planation may as well be received as the right one. I think

aring to be dashed upon them, the landing being bad, and the

and, being broken off apparently about half way to the c

n see from the marks on it that this broken end is still below high water mark.

Dick; "or whether she had more than two masts. There must be some of he

even if we are on a lost island. The tide is coming in steadily now, and the

int farther back, and examine this pa

a good place," added young Smith, who seemed a boy of ideas, although he was a lit

gan to row back. "There is time now, I

inding one where there was a narrow white beach and a bank which sloped gradually up to a distance

beach. "Here is an old stump to which we can tie the boat so that it may

e the tide should rise high, he got out and then he and Perc

ear to extend very far, and after taking a rest of a few minutes they

s farther to the next stopping place, and there

e yacht at anchor, but could not see much beyond that, and Jack sugge

aid them in making the ascent, and they kept on till they reached another good

e fellow, who was under the average size for boys of his age, and he felt quite proud of being with t

won't believe me. I tell you, it is something to have tw

you will only wait," laughed Jack.

ing about him. "There are woods and rocks, and down there I can s

than at the ground at his feet when suddenly Jack noticed that he

m just as he was about to step into this h

he cried. "You don't know how deep th

doesn't it? I wonder how far down it goes,

, my boy. You don't want to go star-gazing like that in strange places.

r if there is anything down there any

ne it is a pretty good job to get down there and a b

, as he knelt on the edge of the hole, and looked down. "Have yo

ne out brightly, as the breeze blew aside the branche

t Jack's side. "In fact, I don't think it is as steep as

ntly. "We ran the risk of breaking a leg or an arm just for the sake of exploring a

marked, and there might be something there after a

nd so are half the boys. You won't find anything down

d Dick, "although it would be very convenient to have a

an to descend, using a stout stick, which he had broken

into the hole as Dick went down, and J

young fellow, and follow Dick

," said the other, "a

f for you. I can do without one, I think. Ke

with echoes, Jack. It goes down quite a distance I should say. The light is a big help.

ing and trying to pierce the darkness, the light that

re we are going, and it is dark. It is never safe to go anywh

ches? The next time we come this way, if we

a tiny blaze shot up, increasing till it enab

ock, whatever it was, proceeding till the match went out, and a few steps fart

er, Jack. Strike another match

, and held them just above his head so as

?" exclaimed Perciva

g into some region beyond, but wheth

nd held his light i

de of a vessel, Dick!"