But it seemed that all the available stones were of the wrong shape until, after a search lasting all of an hour, Bill found one that he thought might answer. He was some distance from the others when he picked it up and shouted: “Here’s one.” The stone was about a foot and a half long and a couple inches wide, and an inch thick except at one end where it tapered to what was almost a knife-like edge. “It’s got to come out mighty easy for that thing to do it,” Gordon declared as he took the stone in his hand. “I know it, but we can try it,” Bill retorted. “Sure we can,” Gordon agreed handing the stone to Rogers. “Hand it to me when I get up on Bill’s shoulders,” he told him. “All right,” he said a moment later, “let’s have it.” “Work it easy, now,” Bill cautioned. It was an awkward place from which to work as he had to reach above his head, but he soon had the edge of the stone in the crack and began to pry. Snap. “I told you so,” Gordon said as he jumped to the ground. “That thing snapped as soon as I put the least pressure on it.” “The stone didn’t move any before your crowbar broke, did it?” Rogers asked. “Not a move,” Gordon told him. “Well, I guess we’ll have to get the proper tools before we can accomplish anything,” Bill said. “Anyhow it’s about time for dinner,” Gordon reminded him. “That tummy of yours,” Bill laughed. “Well, it’s most two o’clock, and——great guns, look at the tide.” So intent had they been on their occupation that they had completely forgotten all about the tide and now they were astounded to see that the water at points was almost at the bottom of the cliff. “We’ve got to hustle if we want to get around the point without having to swim,” Bill shouted as he started off on a run. “We’re not going to do it without getting our feet wet,” Gordon told him as he fell in at his side. “We’ll be lucky if that’s all we get wet,” Rogers added close behind them. “Suppose the plane’s all right?” Gordon panted when they were about half way to the point. “I’m not so sure,” Bill told him. “But it won’t be long if it stays where it is, that’s certain.” “We’re going to get wet all right,” Gordon declared a moment later as they came near the point and he could see the surf breaking on the rocks. “Well, it won’t be the first time,” Bill puffed. “The only thing I’m worrying about is whether or not the water has reached the plane.” “We’ll know in a minute,” Rogers told him. “It’s a good thing there isn’t much wind,” Gordon said as they reached the point and started to wade. They rounded the point without getting into the water above their knees, and Bill gave a sharp cry as he saw the plane about a quarter of a mile down the beach. “The water has got it all right and we’ve got to make it in nothing flat if we’re going to save it,” he yelled as he increased his speed.