“I called the chief a few minutes before you came,” Rogers told him, “and he reported that the doctor had neither phoned nor been around there. I guess that chief knows what he’s talking about most of the time.” “I reckon he knows his callouses,” Gordon told them. “And you think that doctor is one of them, eh?” Rogers laughed. “Well, a callous is a hard spot and, believe me, that baby is a hard one.” “And then some,” Bill added. They chatted together for an hour and then the Jap left after repeating again and again his gratitude for what they had done and making them promise that they would see him again before they left for the States. “Funny he never asked us what we were doing on that island,” Bill mused as they were getting ready for bed. “He asked me before you fellows met him,” Gordon told them. “Did you tell him?” Bill asked. “Of course I didn’t,” Gordon replied, “He was an enemy then.” “I suppose he thought we would tell him if we wanted him to know,” Rogers told them. “Well, that’s that,” Gordon said as he jumped into bed. CHAPTER XI THE ALBATROSS FLIES ON ONE CELL It was just after nine o’clock the following morning when the Albatross settled to the ground close by the camp. “Here’s hoping that no one has rifled the grub,” Gordon said as he leaped to the ground. “We’ve had enough interruption for a while and that’s a fact,” Bill told him as he hurried to the spot where they had cached their provisions. “Guess everything’s all right,” he announced a moment later after a hasty examination. “That’s good news,” Rogers smiled. “Are we going to take the rest of the day off or are we going to get busy?” “The rest of the day? Where do you get that stuff? The day is young yet,” Gordon told him. “Of course we’re going to get busy. What do you think we’re here for?” “How about the tide?” Bill asked as he glanced at his watch. “Must be about half way out,” Rogers told him. “Then we’ll have several hours,” Bill said. “Think it’s safe for all three of us to go?” “Lightning never strikes twice in the same place,” Gordon told him. “Meaning you think it’s all right to leave things to look out for themselves?” “I’d say so. I don’t believe anyone comes along here once in a dog’s age. But don’t forget to hide the cells.” “Why not take the plane and land it on the beach where we want to start in and then we can keep an eye on it,” Rogers suggested. “That’s using the old bean,” Gordon told him. “And we won’t have to walk so far either.” “Which sure appeals to you,” Bill laughed. “But I do think it’s an excellent plan.” So a moment later they were again in the air and soon dropped over the cliffs at the point where the fissure was located. There was plenty of space between the rocks and the water to land and, as the tide was still going out, they felt safe in leaving the plane.