“That would be a nice position for the launch if an enemy took a fancy to drop a few large rocks down on you,” said Merry. “Don’t mention it!” exclaimed Dustan. “You make me nervous.” There were cedars and small trees on the island, but Frank began to doubt if they would be able to find what they wanted. They climbed to the crest of the island, where they found themselves amid the thick cedars. “A fellow might get turned round here so he wouldn’t know how to find his way back to the launch,” said Hodge. “All he’d have to do would be to circle the island,” assured Frank. “He’d be sure to find it.” As they were not provided with an ax, they were not able to cut anything to serve for bumpers. Suddenly, Frank’s hand touched Bart’s wrist, and he whispered: “Listen!” They stood still in their tracks, listening intently for some moments. All was still, save for the breaking of the swell against the southern end of the island. “What was it?” asked Bart. “I fancied I heard voices.” “You must have been mistaken.” “It seems so, but I could have sworn I heard the voices of men.” They moved on a few steps, and then up before them rose a dozen white objects that fled away into the cedars with a scurrying sound. “Whew! What were those?” Hodge was startled; his voice betrayed it. “Sheep,” laughed Frank. “They gave me a start. The first one jumped out from under my feet.” “They looked like spooks, but the rattle of their feet was no spookish sound. My heart tried to play leap-frog with itself.” “There may be a sheep pen of some sort on the island. If so, we’ll be able to find some timbers for bumpers. Let’s look for it.” They continued their search, passing on over the ridge of the island and making their way through the cedars, where they fancied they might find the sheep pen they sought. They had not gone far on that side of the island before both halted, and Hodge whispered: “What’s that light down there?” “That’s what I’m looking at,” said Frank. “It’s not on the island.” “No. It’s off shore.” “Then it must be on some kind of vessel.” “Sure.” “Perhaps——” “The _White Wings_.” “Who knows—it may be!” They were silent as they stood watching the light. It rose and fell with a gentle motion, telling them beyond a doubt that it was on a vessel. “Let’s go down there,” suggested Hodge. “Perhaps we can get close enough to make out what she is.” Frank extinguished the lighted lantern. “It would betray us,” he said. “Now we will go down.” They made their way slowly down through the cedars. At times they could not see the light, but on coming out from the thick bushes it was plainly in view. As they approached the shore, they found there was a cove on that side of the island. It was much larger than the one they had run into with the _Fox_, and it was not so well protected, for the vessel at anchor there felt the swell which was heaving into the Reach from the open sea outside.