ull a long, telling stroke, and under his
guidance the craft soon shot through the opening in the reef and
glided safely into the bay.

"I am glad to put foot on shore," said the sailor, as he leaped out on
the sand.

"I want you to remain near the boat," said Songbird. "I want to see
the captain and it is possible we may want to get back to the steam
yacht in a hurry."

"Oh! All right, sir."

"While I am gone watch the _Rainbow_ and if she should steam away any
great distance call me."

"Why, I thought orders were for us to remain near the reef," cried
Hollbrook.

"So they were, but Mr. Carey is in command now."

Leaving the sailor on the sand, Songbird hurried up the path which the
Rovers and Captain Barforth had taken earlier in the day. He had
covered less than half the distance to the shattered cave when he
heard a shout from the beach. Then, from the water, came the sound of
a shotgun.

"Something is wrong already!" he gasped, as he stopped running. "I
wonder what it can be?"

He hesitated, not knowing whether to go forward or back. Then he set
up a yell on his own accord.

"Captain Barforth! Mr. Rover! This way, quick!" he called at the top
of his lungs.

At first no answer came back, but presently he heard Tom's shrill
whistle, and then a cry from Sam and Dick. The three Rover boys came
down the path pell mell, and their father and the captain were not far
behind them.

"What's the trouble?" came simultaneously from Dick and Tom. Sam would
have asked the question too, but he was out of breath.

"It's Asa Carey," answered Songbird. And then, as the others came up,
he told what Dora had overheard.

"And that shot we heard?" questioned Captain Barforth.

"It told that there was trouble on board, but what I don't know."

"Let us get to the shore," said Dick. He was thinking of Dora and her
mother and the Lanings.

As quickly as possible they dashed along to the sandy beach. Hollbrook
was still calling for Songbird.

"The yacht is steaming away!" he announced. "She is standing to the
eastward."

Captain Barforth gave a look and something like a groan escaped him.
The _Rainbow_ was a good mile away from where she had been stationed
since reaching Treasure Isle.

"Can it be possible Carey and Bossermann are running away with the
vessel?" asked Sam.

"That would be both mutiny and robbery," answered the captain. "I gave
orders to Carey to leave her where she was, unless a heavy blow
threa