s were only for effect now, and meant nothing.
There was a light movement in the thicket, and three figures, crawling
low, entered the canoe which the guard had left the _Manhattan_ in and
moved noiselessly toward the boat.

The Filipino's back was turned to the beach, for he was watching Frank.
French was busy with his cocoa, condensed cream, and sugar, and so the
advancing canoe was not observed until it was within a few feet of the
boat. Then the guard uttered a cry of warning and raised his gun.

Frank was ready for this and the distance between himself and the guard
was well calculated. He launched himself like a catapult-dart against
the slim figure, and was fortunate enough to seize the gun. Frank was an
adept at the Japanese ju-jitsu game, and, much to the astonishment of
the Filipino, he soon found himself, minus his gun, dropping to the
bottom of the bay.

French, of course, started out of the cabin, revolver in hand, but when
he stooped his tall figure in the low doorway he did not straighten it
again as readily as he had expected to. Jack was on the back of his neck
and shoulders, pressing him down to the bridge deck. But French was a
strong man and Jack would have soon been thrown aside had Frank not
engaged him.

When Ned, Pat and Jimmie sprang out of the canoe and gained the cockpit,
the three were in a tangle, with Frank sitting on the hand which held
the weapon. French surrendered the revolver and sat up with a sickly
grin on his face when he saw the three bending over him, ready to take a
hand in the proceedings.

"You win!" he said. "I know when I hold the low hand!"

"Didn't I tell you," Frank said, as soon as he could catch his breath,
"that the motions you saw were calculated to bring the muscles of the
body into action? Well, they did, didn't they?"

"Rather!" French replied. "Now, if you'll pull this ambitious young man
off my back, I'll get into an easier position."

"You're a good fellow," Jack said, "and I'll do as you say, only you've
got to behave yourself, you know."

French, looking as calm as when he had held the upper hand, arose and
seated himself on the bridge deck, looking Ned over keenly as he did so.

"You didn't figure on getting into a mix-up with a lot of wild animals,
did you?" asked Ned, with a smile. "These two Black Bears gave you quite
a squeeze, eh?"

"Rather!" was the short reply. "Say, gentlemen," he went on, "if you'll
kindly step to one side I'll time that