"I think it is pretty large, and I do not believe we could hear a gun fired on the other side even under favorable circumstances, and the circumstances are not favorable now." "Why not?" "Wind is blowing the wrong way." "Didn't think of that." The boys soon concluded that the shooting on the farther side of the island would not be heard by them, and straightway their anxiety increased. Diamond was for starting out at once to look for Frank. He did not believe in waiting till the hour was up; but Hodge, who in his heart was the most anxious man of the party, objected to disobeying Merry's plain command. "He told us to stay here an hour, and I shall stay here," said Bart. "I suppose you would stay if you heard him shouting for help?" said the Virginian, hotly. Bart flushed, for he did not fancy being spoken to in that tone of voice. "I have always found it best to do just as Merriwell directs," said Hodge, stiffly. "If you wish to go search for him, you may go. I remain here twenty minutes longer." Browning grunted his approval of the stand taken by Bart, and Jack gave them both a savage look. Hans, who had refused to partake of the clams while the man in gray was present, was feeling very hungry, and that made him still more miserable. "Oxcuse me, poys," he said. "I must made a raid der ship's brovisions ubon. I vill peen pack britty soon, if nod before." Then he took the boat and rowed off to the yacht, where he lost no time in satisfying the cravings of his "inner man." As the Dutch lad appeared on deck to row ashore again, Browning suddenly straightened up from his recumbent position. He had his watch in his hand, and the Dutch lad heard him say: "The hour is up, Hodge." Immediately Bart turned toward the yacht and shouted to Hans: "Bring two of those guns ashore, and plenty of cartridges for them. Be lively about it! We are in a howling hurry." "All righd!" shouted Hans, in return, as he plunged down the companion way. He was not long in getting the guns and placing them in the boat, but when he reached the shore it was discovered that he had brought the wrong cartridges. Then Hodge leaped into the boat and rowed out to the yacht for what was needed, returning in a few minutes. Browning, however, usually careless and lazy, was fretting at the delay, for the big fellow remembered how, but a short time before, he had saved Frank's life by a hair's breadth. A delay of one minute in that case would have been fatal. Bruce had some imagination, and he was beginning to picture Frank in all sorts of peril. "Look here!" came fiercely from Diamond; "what are you chaps up to? Do not think for a moment that you are going to leave me behind! I'm going with you! I am going to help find Merriwell!" "Of course, you can come if you insist," began Bruce. "I do!" cut in Jack. "But I scarcely think it advisable," the big fellow continued. "At least two of our party should remain and watch the yacht." "Hans is enough for that."