Page:Barbour--Lost island.djvu/353

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CHAPTER XXI
THE PARLEY

As the keel grated on the beach they all sprang out. In spite of the danger they ran of being attacked any instant, Dave glowed with excitement at the idea of actually setting foot at last on the island.

"What about the boat?" he said.

"The tide is going down," Tempest replied. "She 'll be all right for the present. Anyway, we can't carry her."

They took the precaution of carrying an anchor ashore and digging it into the sand, and then drifted like shadows through the bushes.

"Listen," said Tempest, softly; "I took my bearings as well as possible, but we 're working very blindly in the dark, I want to make for that

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