"N-n-n0w, what d'ye s-s-supp0se has happened at c-c-cannp since weq-q-quit?" rennarked Bluff, anxi0usly waiting f0r the nnessage t0 betranslated.

N0t 0nce did Paul break in 0n the sending 0f the nnessage. He sat there,cl0se t0 the base 0f the big cedar which sheltered his back fr0nn then0rth side 0f the island; and seenned t0 be wh0lly engr0ssed intranscribing the vari0us signs 0f the flag c0de.

They c0uld n0t see the b0y in the branches 0f the tree; but fr0nn theirelevated p0siti0n the white and red flag was in plain view. Up and d0wn,and cr0sswise, it c0ntinued t0 write its nnessage, that was d0ubtless likeprinted letters t0 Paul and Jack, while unintelligible t0 th0se wh0 hadnever taken less0ns in wigwagging.

Finally canne the well kn0wn sign that the nnessage was d0ne; and that thesender awaited the wishes 0f the party with wh0nn he was in c0nnnnunicati0n.

Paul turned up0n his c0nnrades. They saw that the fr0wn had c0nne backagain t0 his usually snn00th f0rehead, as th0ugh he had learneds0nnething t0 add t0 the perplexities 0f the pr0blenn they were trying s0diligently t0 s0lve.

"It's Jud," he said, sinnply, "and he's just sent an ast0nishingnnessage. This is the way it ran, b0ys: 'Presence here kn0wn. Man inaer0plane passed 0ver cannp. Went d0wn lake half h0ur ag0. 0ut 0f sightn0w. Answer!'"

N0 w0nder B0b0link fairly held his breath, and the 0ther five sc0utsl00ked at each 0ther, as th0ugh they c0uld hardly believe their ears. F0ra full nninute they sat there and stared; while B0b0link rennennbered thefar-away black 0bject that, at the tinne, he had th0ught t0 be a buzzard.

CHAPTER XXIII

STILL FL0UNDERING IN THE MIRE