n aeroplane to
take the place of the same trees. They can only make a charge through
that gap in the stern and we're able to guard that, all right, ain't we,
Ned?"

"It seems so," the other told him; "but you mustn't be too sure about
there being no other way of getting aboard. We might have said that
before, and yet there was the dangling rope that three of them climbed.
Now, there may be another route; and while we don't know about it, the
only way to make sure is to keep on the alert every minute of the time."

Possibly half an hour passed in this way. The strain was beginning to
tell on some of the boys, for they felt that it was necessary to keep
keyed up to a high tension all the time. They did not know at what
moment loud yells would indicate that the battle had been resumed and
under new conditions.

"Whew! and to think that we've just got to keep this up all night long,"
Teddy lamented, as he shifted from one foot to the other, for, as he
said, they were trying to play tricks with him, by going to sleep on
post.

"Yes, and mebbe a whole lot longer," Jimmy told him; "because, while I
haven't been saying much about the same, I'm of the opinion that Ned hit
the right nail on the head when he said they'd try to starve us out. Oh!
I could stand nearly anything, but to go hungry. I've often thought
that would be my wind-up some of these fine days, to starve to death.
And I can't imagine a more terrible fate."

"Enough for two decent meals in the larder yet, Jimmy," said Frank. "And
before we get to the jumping-off place, we'll make a move out of this,
let me tell you. I think you'll be able to eat your three meals a day
this long while yet."

"Well, it's kind of you to say so, Frank," Jimmy went on; "but just now
I was thinking how neat we could give these fellers the slip, if only we
had a boat of some sort. There's plenty of water at the bow, with the
tide still comin' in like fun. My kingdom for a boat; any old hooker'd
do to fill the bill, because we ain't particular."

"Could we manage to make a raft, do you think?" asked Teddy.

"There's plenty of loose stuff around," Ned remarked; "but while a boat
might help us out, I don't think we could do anything with a clumsy
raft, even if we had a chance to launch the same, without being found
out. I had considered whether we might get overboard at the bow and make
off up the shore, but the chances of being discovered seemed too great."

"And besides we'd be