opposite where they had
left the _Gull_ riding at anchor, and where they had placed their small
boat and a supply of provisions.

"We must have come the wrong way, and have almost made a circuit of the
island," said Andy wearily.

"Never mind, it can't be much farther off now," and Frank tried to
speak cheerfully. But it was hard work.

The rain had ceased for some time now, and looking up the boys saw the
faint gleam of stars.

"It's going to clear," observed Andy.

"Yes," assented Frank.

Another mile was covered. A dim glow seemed to suffuse the sky. It
grew brighter.

"It's morning!" cried the older lad.

"Yes, and look there!" suddenly exclaimed Andy. He pointed ahead.
"There's where our camp was," he added.

Frank gazed for a moment in silence. Then he gasped:

"But our small boat's gone."

"And so is the _Gull_!" fairly shouted the younger lad as he waved his
hand toward the place where it had been anchored. "That man has taken
it and gone off! We're marooned Cliff Island!"

CHAPTER XXV

A LUCKY QUARREL

Frank stared uncomprehendingly toward the slowly heaving waters of the
bay.

"I can't believe it!" he exclaimed. "The _Gull_ must be somewhere
else. We're at the wrong place."

"I only wish we were," spoke Andy dubiously.

"But you can see for yourself that this is where we camped. Here is
where our small boat was pulled up on shore, where we slept under it,
and, if you want any better evidence--here's grub! Grub, Frank do you
hear? We shan't starve, even if we are marooned!"

He raced to a clump of scrub bushes some distance up on shore and began
pulling out boxes and tins.

"Good!" shouted Frank. "I never was so hungry before in my life. Now
if we could only make a fire!"

But that was out of the question. Every bit of driftwood, of which
there was a big supply, was soaking wet. The boys had plenty of
matches, in waterproof boxes, but they would be useless until some dry
fuel was available.

"Well, it can't be helped," said Andy, as he proceeded to open a tin of
corned beef. "We ought to be thankful for this. Open that tin box of
crackers. Luckily they're not wet. We can make a meal off this, and
we'll have a cooked dinner. I wonder--why--blub--ugh--that
man--um--lum--didn't--"

"Oh, don't try to talk and eat at the same time," requested Frank with
a laugh--the first since their adventure in the cave. "Take your
time." For Andy was fairly devouring th