ut she is under charter to Mr.
Rover, and Mr. Rover told me to use a small boat whenever I pleased,"
answered Songbird sharply. "If you refuse to let me have a boat say
so."

"Oh, I--er--I didn't say that," stammered the mate. "If you want to go
do so. But I don't know if Hollbrook can get you through the reef in
safety or not."

"I'll risk it," said Songbird briefly and hurried below to prepare
himself for the trip. Fred and Hans met him in his stateroom.

"I think Carey is suspicious," said Songbird. "Keep an eye on him, and
if anything goes wrong shoot off the cannon or a gun. I'll do my best
to find Mr. Rover and the captain and bring them back as quickly as
possible."

In a few minutes Songbird and the sailor were over the side of the
_Rainbow_. Hollbrook could pull a long, telling stroke, and under
his guidance the craft soon shot through the opening in the reef and
glided safely into the bay.

"I am glad to put foot on shore," said the sailor, as he leaped out on
the sand.

"I want you to remain near the boat," said Songbird. "I want to see the
captain and it is possible we may want to get back to the steam yacht
in a hurry."

"Oh! All right, sir."

"While I am gone watch the _Rainbow_ and if she should steam away
any great distance call me."

"Why, I thought orders were for us to remain near the reef," cried
Hollbrook.

"So they were, but Mr. Carey is in command now."

Leaving the sailor on the sand, Songbird hurried up the path which the
Rovers and Captain Barforth had taken earlier in the day. He had
covered less than half the distance to the shattered cave when he heard
a shout from the beach. Then, from the water, came the sound of a
shotgun.

"Something is wrong already!" he gasped, as he stopped running. "I
wonder what it can be?"

He hesitated, not knowing whether to go forward or back. Then he set up
a yell on his own accord.

"Captain Barforth! Mr. Rover! This way, quick!" he called at the top of
his lungs.

At first no answer came back, but presently he heard Tom's shrill
whistle, and then a cry from Sam and Dick. The three Rover boys came
down the path pell-mell, and their father and the captain were, not far
behind them.

"What's the trouble?" came simultaneously from Dick and Tom. Sam would
have asked the question too, but he was out of breath.

"It's Asa Carey," answered Songbird. And then, as the others came up,
he told what Dora had overheard.

"And that shot we heard?