ns were unnecessary. Before the rowboat reached the
sand, a flash of white had appeared over the bows of the Fortuna, a
great splash of water gave evidence of a heavy body launched from the
deck, and a commotion betokened a swimmer in action.

"Good old boy!" cried Frank with a sob in his throat.

"That never was Arnold!" cried Harry aghast at the thought of his chum
venturing into the water alone on such a quest.

"Not on your life!" Jack protested. "That was our one and only. Old
Rowdy is on the job with both feet. He's going ashore for business, too.
I believe that dog actually knows things!"

"Heaven help that poor wretch if Rowdy gets to him first!" cried Harry.
"Rowdy has more enthusiasm than caution, and he's apt to get rough. I
wouldn't be surprised to find Wyckoff all strung around the island in
small pieces when we get there."

In a short time the nose of the rowboat grounded on the beach.

The three boys leaped out and raced quickly to their fallen chum. Tom
was struggling to rise from his prone position. Far across the sands the
fleeing figure of the outlaw was being rapidly overtaken by the enraged
bulldog, who sensed the situation and who apparently was determined to
overtake and punish the escaped prisoner.

"Are you hurt, Tom?" queried Jack in a shaking tone.

"I guess so," Tom replied in a dazed manner. "No, I don't think I am,"
he corrected himself. "That is," he continued, "I don't know just what
happened. I heard you cry out, and as I turned to look, the explosion
took place. What happened, anyway?"

"From the look of your jaw, Wyckoff must have landed a sweeping kick
just where the knockout nerve is located," explained Frank.

"Try to shut your teeth," suggested Harry. "If you can shut your teeth
all right, nothing serious is to be feared."

Tom made the effort, but winced with pain. A grimace stole over his
countenance and his hand went up to the injured jaw.

"That hurts, doesn't it?" solicitously inquired Jack.

"Not much," bravely protested Tom. "The most trouble is that I can shut
the front teeth, but the back ones don't seem to meet by half an inch or
more. The jaw must be dislocated."

In spite of their sympathy the boys could not restrain a laugh.

"I guess that if your front teeth come together your back ones meet,"
Jack assured the injured boy. "Let's look for Wyckoff."

"You mean let's look for Wyckoff's remains!" Harry tried to put in, but
he was stopped by a gesture fr