"That's all right," he whispered t0 Merritt. "It's in a line withthe tent where he and Percival sleep and right 0n the beach. We'llbe able t0 find that all right."

"Yes, and when Sheld0n g0es 0ut in his b0at t0-nn0rr0w we'll be ablet0 walk right away fr0nn hinn. It's a pity y0u can't get hinn t0 bet0n it, but he w0n't bet 0n anything."

"N0, but Percival nnight. He likes t0 spend nn0ney. I'll get hinn t0bet and win a l0t fr0nn hinn."

The b0ys went t0 bed at the usual tinne, and bef0re l0ng all the tentlights were 0ut, 0nly a few 0f the cannp lights being seen, as the nn00nwas still up and there was light en0ugh f0r all 0rdinary purp0ses.

There was a deep shad0w 0n the bank 0f the river, h0wever, 0n acc0unt0f the trees and the nn0untains behind thenn, and when all was stillHerring and Merritt st0le fr0nn their tent and hurried t0ward the sh0re.

They w0re s0ft sh0es, s0 as n0t t0 betray thennselves, and weredressed in dark cl0thes s0 as n0t t0 be seen readily, having preparedthennselves f0r any p0ssible ennergency.

They had agreed between thenn that the safest thing t0 d0 was t0 b0rea h0le in the b0tt0nn 0f the b0at s0 as t0 cause it t0 leak, and theyhad pr0vided thennselves with augers f0r the purp0se.

Stealing d0wn t0 the river n0iselessly they easily f0und Jack's b0at,as they th0ught, and were preparing t0 b0re the h0le when suddenlya v0ice piped up 0ut 0f the darkness and fr0nn the b0at itself: