d the professor. "There is no
telling what we may meet."

Picking up their guns the boys started off on the trail with Tom in the
lead. They had not gone very far on the way when Tom stopped and raised
his hand.

"There is something or someone coming," he whispered as the others came
up with him. "Get behind or into the bushes until we see who it is, or
what."

Only a person with ears trained by experience in the woods would have
detected the approach of someone as Tom had. There was an occasional
snapping of a twig or rustling in the bushes as the coming object moved.
There was an unevenness about the movements that puzzled the boys.

With his rifle cocked and ready for instant use, Tom crouched behind the
bush ready for quick action if necessary. Then as the figure of someone
came into view, moving slowly, and stealthily through the woods, he
sprang forward.

"Hallo, Juarez," he called. "Anything the matter? Where have you been?"

"Where is Jim?" asked Juarez.

"Jim?" echoed Tom. "I don't know. Isn't he with you?"

"Then those pirates have got him!" exclaimed Juarez. "I tried to get
back to warn him, but I had a fall, and it took me longer than I
expected."

"Come. Sit down and tell us about it," said the professor, fixing,
meanwhile a place beneath a tree, "while I see what is the matter with
you. Where are you hurt?"

"It is my foot," explained Juarez. "I expect I strained it when I fell.
I can hardly walk."

"Hardly!" exclaimed the professor when he examined Juarez's foot. "It's
a wonder you walked at all. You have a dislocation. And your head, too?"

"Never mind that," cried Juarez. "Never mind anything. We want to get
after the pirates."

"All in good time, Juarez," replied the professor. "The first thing to
do is to get you into shape again, for we shall need your help. Here,
Tom, you get a hold of this leg. Hold it steady, now, ready." With a
little click the bone slipped back into place when the professor gave a
pull and a little twist to the foot, but although Juarez's face went
white, he did not utter a sound.

"Now," commanded the professor, "see if you can get some cold water, Jo,
and Tom, you find something for a bandage. You'll find some sail cloth
among the stuff we brought in the boat."

Tom was off in a second to return presently with a strip of cloth as Jo
came up with his cap full of water. Tearing the material into strips and
dipping them into the water, the professor soon had b