hook his head and pointed to the west. It was clear that he did
not wish to be taken on board there.

Ned kept on toward the beach, however, notwithstanding Pat's frantic
gestures, and was not a little annoyed when he saw the boy wade out into
the water, down the sloping shore, lapped by tiny waves, and strike out
boldly for the boat.

He reached the _Manhattan_ in safety, was hauled in, and sank down in
the cockpit with a grunt of exhaustion for he had exerted his full
strength, "and then some" as he afterwards explained, in the long swim.
Presently he arose and pointed to a little projection on the shore,
perhaps three hundred yards ahead.

"There's a river runs in there," he said, "and the _Manhattan_ will find
a safe harbor, as the stream though narrow, is deep and overhung with
trees and creepers."

"But they must know that there is a boat here," Frank said. "This engine
of ours talks some when she moves."

"I don't think they heard it," Pat insisted.

"But the shot?" asked Ned.

"That might have come from the island. Anyway," Pat went on, "there is
little commotion on the island except that made by the monkeys and the
birds."

"Did you see anything of the boys?" asked Ned, the safety of Jack and
Jimmie concerning him greatly.

"No," was the disappointing reply. "They got too good a start on me."

"How far inland did you go?" asked Frank.

By this time the _Manhattan_ was under way, and the place of refuge
spoken of by the boy was not far away.

"I climbed the hill that runs near the shore," was the reply. "The first
thing I saw was a collection of tents and leaf shelters."

Ned and Frank both gave exclamations of amazement.

"Found at last!" Frank said.

"The next thing I saw," Pat went on, "was a small steamer lying in a bay
on the west shore. There is a break in the hills which line that coast,
and I could see the boat plainly. I have seen her in Manila. It is the
_Miles_, and she is carrying the American flag. She got up steam just as
I caught sight of her, and at first I thought her activity had been
aroused by the shot which saved my life, but I've now reached the
conclusion that she was merely making a perfunctory trip around the
island."

"Then you think if we escape observation on this run we will be safe for
some hours?"

"I am quite sure of it, so far as those on the boat are concerned. But
what is the boat doing here? It is a government boat, used by officials
in making tours of i