"I will be afther lookin' fer her," he said. "But it's more likely a drame. I used to be afther dramin' loike that meself." And then he disappeared. The morning slipped by, and the boys were thoroughly miserable. At first the natives left them alone, but presently they came on one after another and pulled their noses, their ears, and their hair. One savage doused them with dirty water from the lake, and all laughed loudly at the trick. Noon had come and gone, when of a sudden several shots sounded in the distance. The shots were followed by a loud yelling of natives, and at once those surrounding Dave and Bob ran off to learn the cause of the conflict. "Something is up!" cried Dave. "What can it mean?" "I reckon we'll soon learn," answered the young engineer. A few more shots followed, and soon after all became quiet, the stillness lasting for over an hour. Then a chanting was heard, and a body of savages appeared, having in their midst two prisoners. "Look!" cried Dave. "Captain Broadbeam and Doctor Barrell! Is it possible!" He was right. The newly made prisoners were the captain and the doctor, who had been surprised while on a second hunt for the missing ones. CHAPTER XV A DOOR OF WATER "Dave Fearless! And Bob Vilett! Thank Heaven you are not dead!" So spoke Captain Broadbeam as his eyes rested upon the two youthful prisoners of the savages. The captain's clothing was torn, and there were marks of blood upon his face, showing that he had not submitted without a struggle. Indeed, both the captain of the _Swallow_ and Doctor Barrell had fought to the bitter end. "We have been hunting everywhere for you," put in the doctor. "Some thought you dead, but we were not willing to believe it." "Did a man named Pete Rackley come to the _Swallow_?" questioned Dave, quickly. "I know nothing of a man of that name," answered the captain, "but there came to us a poor and forlorn castaway, who said he had been alone on this island for nearly two years." "Please describe him," said Bob. The captain did so. Both Dave and Bob gave a groan. "He is a fraud!" burst out the young diver. "And he will wreck the _Swallow_ before we can get back to her," added Bob. Of course, both Captain Broadbeam and Doctor Barrell were astonished at these remarks. "I don't understand," said the master of the ship. As quickly as he could Dave explained the plot which had been hatched out by Lemuel Hankers and which Rackley, his tool, was to carry out. "It is dastardly!" cried both the captain and the doctor. "And to think I took him on board, gave him new clothing, and promised him pay until we should get back to the States," added the captain. "Even now he may be wrecking my beautiful engine!" groaned Bob. "Oh, if only I had the rascal by the neck!" The savages now interrupted the talk by separating the prisoners, tying each to a tree some distance from the others.