"There, there, Tyke," soothed the skipper, "have it your own way. But what we have on hand just now is how to get the better of Ditty and his gang." Gradually Tyke's ruffled feathers were smoothed and he devoted himself to the matter in hand. They talked late and long, but in the face of only vague conjectures, could reach no definite conclusion. One thing they did decide: It was so to manage matters as to leave Rogers in command of the schooner when the captain himself should be ashore. Unless Ditty were actually deposed, and as yet there was no valid excuse for doing this, the only way they could carry out this plan was to see that Ditty was on shore at the same time that the treasure seekers were. The next morning when the party was ready to start, Captain Hamilton spoke to Ditty. "Mr. Ditty," he directed, "you will take ten of the men ashore on leave this morning in the long-boat. I am going myself with the crew of the smaller boat. Mr. Rogers will remain in charge of the ship. If you find sweet water, send back for the casks." Ditty started to make an objection. "Beg pardon, sir, but I don't care for shore leave myself. Mr. Rogers can go in my place if he wants to, sir." "You heard what I said, Mr. Ditty. Mr. Rogers went yesterday," said the captain curtly. "Have both boats lowered at once." There was no help for it, and Ditty yielded a surly obedience. "What time shall I bring the men back, sir?" he asked. "When I give you the signal," replied the captain. "Perhaps not till late afternoon. Take your dinner grub with you." The boats left the ship's side together, and in a few minutes both reached the beach. With instructions to Ditty to keep his men on the east end of the island, the captain's party entered the jungle. They easily found the path they had trodden the day before, and were well on their way to the whale's hump when they were startled by a queer vibration of the earth. There was no sound accompanying it. On the contrary, everything seemed hushed in a deathlike stillness. The cries of birds and the humming of insects had stopped as though by magic. Nature seemed to be holding her breath. Then came a second quivering stronger than the first--a shock which threw the four treasure hunters violently to the ground. CHAPTER XXI "IF I WAS SUPERSTITIOUS-----" "What is this?" "An earthquake!" "The island is sinking!" "We'll have to get out of this!" Such were some of the cries of the treasure hunters as the earth trembled beneath them. For perhaps twenty seconds the sickening vibration continued. Then it stopped as suddenly as it had begun. The swaying trees finished their dizzy dance, and the rocks that had seemed to be bowing to each other like so many mummers resumed their impassive attitudes. Their lawless frolic had ended! Drew had caught Ruth by the arm as she went down, and thus had broken the violence of her fall. But all were jarred and shaken.