Down came the sails; and shortly after, rattle--rattle--rattle--rattle, and with a plunge and a splash, the anchor rushed to the sea bottom. “And now for the boats,” said Mr. Long. The boat was brought up alongside. It was short, wide, and round, and appeared to have been constructed after the identical tub which had evidently served as a model for the Antelope. There was but one oar, which was used to propel the boat by sculling. Not more than five or six could get into her with safety. “We can’t all go ashore in that,” said Mr. Simmons. “Why not?” asked Captain Corbet. “Why, she won’t hold us.” “Yes, she will.” “O, no.” “Excuse _me_, sir,” persisted Captain Corbet. “Of course you don’t all mean to go at once.” “O, I see,” said Mr. Simmons, whose mathematical mind began to grasp the solution of the difficult problem. “You’ll make two or three trips with her.” “Of course.” “O, that quite alters the case.” “Bless your heart, of course it does.” “Will we want any provisions?” asked Bart. “Provisions! What for?” “Are we going to camp out?” “O, no. We’ll return to the vessel. But provisions! O, yes, we’ll want a lunch ashore, of course.” And now began the process of disembarkation. Messrs. Simmons and Long, with two boys, went first. A number of baskets of provisions were thrown in, and the mate sculled them ashore. On his return five more boys were ready. The “B. O. W. C.” generously waited till the last. The loss of their hats had been a sore grievance, but the handkerchiefs were not a bad substitute. Bart had his pistol in his belt, and a sailor’s knife. Bruce Rawdon had a beautiful little hatchet. The others had knives. When the boat returned, they were quite worn out with impatience, and were almost ready to jump overboard and swim ashore. But their time of waiting ended at last, and the boat landed them on the gravelly beach.. It was about two o’clock when the party landed on the island. They had started at ten, three hours before high tide. The tide was therefore already beginning to turn, and would of course continue to run out till seven or eight. On this account, the schooner could not come any nearer for fear of being stranded. As they did not intend to pass the night on the island, it was necessary, at all hazards, to keep the vessel afloat. Captain Corbet had selected a place where he knew the vessel could ride at all times of tide; and though it was inconveniently distant, yet it was the only place for her under the circumstances. Mr. Simmons had told Captain Corbet that he would leave the island in three hours, after which the schooner was to sail to a port a few miles off on the main land, and anchor for the night. He had also taken care to let all the boys understand these arrangements perfectly, and had warned them not to be too far away when the hour for leaving might come.