n a row.

"That's the same light, showing through the four starboard ports of
the motor room," trembled Joe Dawson. "Starboard, because the lantern
was carried forward, before it disappeared briefly in the hatchway of
the motor room."

"That's our boat--there isn't a single doubt of it," cried Tom
Halstead, enthusiastically. "And now--oh, fellows! We've simply got to
swim over there, rough sea or smooth sea. We've got to get our own
boat back unless the heavens fall on us on the way over!"

"Humph! What are we going to do," demanded Hank Butts, "if we find a
gang aboard that we can't whip or bluff?"

"That," spoke Captain Tom, softly, "will have to be decided after we
get there. But swim over there we must, since there isn't anything on
this island that even looks like a boat. See here, Joe, you and Hank
trot up to the bungalow and tell Mr. Seaton what we've seen. The
'Restless' is at anchor in the cove yonder. There are plenty of logs
up at the bungalow. Come back with one big enough to buoy us up in the
water, yet not so big but what we can steer it while swimming. And
bring with it a few lengths of that quarter-inch cord from the dynamo
room. Don't be too long, will you, fellows?"

After Joe and Hank had departed, Tom Halstead watched the light
shining behind the four distant ports until it disappeared. Then he
looked at the waves long and wonderingly.

"It's a big chance to take. I don't know whether we can ever get out
there in a sea like this," he muttered. "Yet, what wouldn't I do to
get control of our own boat again? Our own boat--the good old
'Restless'! Joe isn't saying much of anything; he never does, but I
know how he feels over the stealing of the boat and the chance that
bunglers may leave her on the rocks somewhere along this coast!"

A few minutes passed. Then the young skipper heard hurrying footsteps.
Joe and Hank hove into sight out of the deep gloom, bearing an
eight-foot log on their shoulders.

"Good enough," nodded Halstead, eyeing the log approvingly. "Now, wade
into the water with it, and let's see whether it will buoy us all up
at need."

All three waded out with the log, until they were in nearly up to
their shoulders.

"Now, hang to it, and see if it will hold us up," commanded Captain
Tom Halstead.

The log bore them up, but the crest of a big wave, rolling in, hurled
them back upon the beach. Tom dragged the log up onto dry ground.

"Now, first of all, let's lash our clubs t