"I agree with you," said Grant, although the tones of his voice failed to show any strong conviction. "Don't you worry none about them boys," called the captain again as he saw George and Grant anxiously conferring. "If they are any kind of boys they will take care of themselves. Why, I wouldn't give much for a lad that couldn't protect himself in such a night as last night was. Up on Mackinac Island I have known people who lived for months on fried snowballs. They are not very good as a diet, but they help to keep people from thinking too much about their troubles." Neither of the boys responded to the flippant words of their captain, although both were aware that he was speaking out of the kindness of his heart. When nearly three hours had elapsed after they had departed from Mackinac the captain, once more turning to his passengers, said, "Yonder lie the shores of Western Duck Island." As he spoke he pointed to a low lying strip of land that could be seen far in advance of them. "My opinion is," he continued, "that those boys didn't stay out in their boat all night. Maybe they landed." "Is anybody living on the island?" said George quickly. "Not regular. This time of the year though there may be parties camping out. A bit later in the fall there are plenty of people there shooting ducks." "That doesn't do us any good," retorted George. "What we want is to find out where those fellows are now and if they got any help on the island." "You wait a bit," rejoined the captain, "and we'll find out." Swiftly the little motor-boat approached the shores of the island they were seeking. It too passed the long strip of rushes which had been seen the preceding night by John and Fred in their attempts to find a landing place. The motor-boat at last came to anchor off a rocky shore and at the suggestion of the captain George and Grant climbed into the skiff and hastily casting off at once rowed ashore. "I'll wait for you here," called the captain as the boys clambered up on the bank. "I shouldn't be gone more than an hour. Come back and we'll try it farther down the shore." The boys agreed to return within the specified time and then after peering eagerly all about them together started toward the woods they could see in the distance. Just why they walked in this direction neither could explain, but there was somehow a thought in the mind of each that possibly within its shelter a camp or a house might be found. The hour passed and all the efforts of the searching boys were unrewarded. Not a trace of their missing friends had they discovered. "It's plain enough they aren't here," said George dejectedly. "That's right," answered Grant, "we've called and shouted and whistled and looked and walked and waited, but we haven't anything for all our pains. I'm beginning to believe the boys aren't here." "I agree with you as far as this spot is concerned," said George, "but we ought to go on farther down the island before we go back to Mackinac."