AN ATTACK IN THE DARK.
Si Peters was nearly dumfounded at the unexpected turn affairs had taken.
The bully at once gave the necessary directions, and the yacht passed to
windward of the other boat.
"A good idea, Jerry!" exclaimed Harry. "That will make them steer clear of
us for good, I reckon."
"If they haven't got guns of their own, Harry."
The boys on the yacht were evidently much crestfallen. They had hoped to
get Jerry in their power, but that plan was defeated. They dropped behind
several hiding places, and again headed for the big row-boat.
But once more Jerry outwitted them. Calling to Blumpo to steady the
temporary mast, he climbed to the top, his gun slung over his shoulder.
From this elevated point he was able to sweep the yacht's deck from stem
to stern.
"Now turn about, or I'll fire on you, as sure as fate!" he ordered.
"You think you are smart, don't you," sneered Wash Crosby.
"I'm too smart for your crowd," retorted Jerry.
"We can fire as well as you," put in Graves.
"If you had a gun, which you haven't," retorted Jerry.
The boys on the yacht growled among themselves, but could do nothing. Wash
Crosby tried to throw a piece of iron on the row-boat, but it fell short.
Then Harry retaliated by shooting through the yacht's main-sail.
Seeing the boys on the big row-boat meant business, Si Peters and his
crowd withdrew from the encounter.
As soon as they were gone, Jerry came down from his perch, and off they
started once more for the island.
The yacht sailed so far off they thought they were no longer observed.
But in this they were mistaken for Si Peters had a field glass with him.
This glass was now brought into play, and Peters' crowd kept track of
Jerry and the others until the vicinity of Hermit Island was reached.
"Going to camp there," said Wash Crosby.
"It ought to give us a fine chance to get square," replied Si Peters, and
the crowd began to plot against our hero and his friends.
But in the meantime the big row-boat disappeared behind the bushes which
fringed a narrow inlet, and, try their best, those on the yacht could not
locate it again.
"Never mind, we'll come up some other day," said Si Peters. "It's getting
too late to do anything now."
And the yacht returned to Rockpoint.
It was Harry who selected a landing place on Hermit's Island. He found a
smooth, sandy beach, and here the row-boat was drawn up well out of the
water.
Back of the beach was a little clearing. On one side were tall rocks, and
on the other the woods.
"As good a place as any to pitch the tent," said Jerry. "Come, Blumpo,
stir yourself."
The tent was brought out and put up, and a camp fire was lit. While Blumpo
gathered brush to put into the tent to sleep on, Jerry and Harry tried
their hands at fishing.
Soon Harry had a bite, and brought in a perch weighing a little over a
half a pound.
"Good for you, Harry, you take first prize!" cried Jerry.
Hardly had he spoken when he felt a jerk. There was a lively struggle for
fully a minute, and then Jerry landed his catch--a rock bass, all of a
pound in weight.
"Second, but best," laughed Harry. "I guess that is all we want for
to-night."
The pan was over the fire getting hot. Blumpo cleaned the fish and put
them on. In the meantime, Jerry made a pot of coffee.
Never had a meal tasted better to the boys. They lingered over the scraps
for a long while, talking over the events of the day. Blumpo also gave
them a song. It was a happy time.
"Somebody ought to stand guard all night, I suppose," said Jerry, when it
came time to turn in.
"Oh, nonsense!" cried Harry. "Who is going to hurt us in this out of the
way spot?"
"We don't know what may be around."
"I'se too tired to watch," put in Blumpo.
"Never knew the time you weren't tired," laughed Jerry. "But let it go, if
you wish."
Quarter of an hour later all of the boys had turned in. Blumpo picked out
a corner of the tent nearest the rear. Harry slept in the middle, while
Jerry took up a place not far from the front flaps.
As it was rather warm, they left one of the flaps open to admit the air.
Jerry lay in such a position that he could look out on the smoldering
campfire.
Jerry was as tired as the rest, and it did not take him long to drop off
into a sound sleep.
How long he slept he did not know. A low noise outside aroused him. He
opened his eyes with a start, wondering what it was.
Then came another growl or grunt, he could not tell which. He sat up and
looked outside.
A sight met his gaze that nearly caused his heart to stop beating. The
camp fire was almost out, but beyond its fitful glare he beheld a pair of
large eyes bent directly upon the tent opening.
The eyes belonged to some savage beast which was about to attack the
camp.