has turned out fine,"
declared Frank. "They won't worry much, I guess. I wish they'd come
for us though. I don't know what to do with this man."

"That's right. Well, keep on looking. Dad may come by afternoon."

If the boys had only known of the cutting down of their rowboat and the
intense anxiety of Mr. Racer they would not have been so confident of
the lack of worry on the part of those at home.

"Say, are you fellows going to keep me here like this all day, in the
hot sun without shelter and nothing to eat?" the prisoner finally
exclaimed. "It's not right!"

"Well, perhaps it isn't," agreed Frank, "but it wasn't right for you to
shut us in the cave, either. However, we will give you something to
eat, if you promise not to attack us if we loose your hands."

"Loosen only one hand, and don't trust him," whispered Andy.

"Oh, I suppose I've got to promise," grumbled the man. "I'm half
starved."

"So am I," remarked Andy to his brother. "Let's quit searching now,
and go for grub. We have plenty of it at our camp, and we can bring it
here. Guess we'd better camp here, too. It's a better place, and we
can't move him down very well."

To this Frank agreed, and they soon had their food moved to the new
location. They looked well to the bonds of the prisoner before leaving
him, even for a few minutes. Then, when a fire had been built, and
some food prepared, they loosened the ropes from one of his hands so
that he might feed himself. Andy and Frank were seated in front of
him, eating, when Andy happened to turn around.

He saw that the man had in some manner, secured possession of a piece
of heavy driftwood. This club he was raising to bring down on the head
of Frank, who was nearest to him. There was no time to call out, for
the stick was already descending, and Andy did the next best thing.

With a quick shove of his foot he sent his brother sprawling over on
his side in the sand, while the club came down harmlessly, but only a
few inches away.

CHAPTER XXVIII

BUILDING A RAFT

"What was the matter?" gasped Frank, somewhat dazed, as he crawled away
and sat up. "Why did you shove me over?"

"Don't you see?" asked Andy quickly. "He was going to hit you! Then
he'd have tackled me I guess. Look out! He's at it again!"

With a snarl of rage the man had again raised the club. But Frank was
too quick for him. Fairly leaping at him, the sturdy lad tore the
piece of driftwood away a