Frank and Andy Afloat Part 33

The case was soon stated.

"I agree with you that it is a good thing to go after Andy and Frank,"

said the medical man. "As for taking Paul along--hum--well, I don't know."

"Oh, I'm all right, doctor," insisted the lad again.

"You certainly have gained much strength in the last few days," went on the physician. "If you take care of yourself perhaps it won't do you any harm. But don't exert yourself too much."

"No," promised Paul eagerly. Then, as he hurried to his room to get ready, Dr. Martin said to Mr. Racer in a low voice:

"I'm not so sure but what it won't be a good thing for him. He lost his memory in a storm, you know, and if there is a little blow out in the bay his mind may be restored again. We doctors don't know as much about the brain as we'd like to. It can't do any harm to try it, especially as you are going in a big, safe boat. Good luck to you."

Mrs. Racer parted with her husband and Paul rather tearfully. The signs of the storm increased as the two went down to the pier. Mr.

Racer found his friend there, and Mr. Lacey readily agreed to the use of his boat.

"I'll pilot you to the island myself," he said generously, "and I'll tell the engineer and crew to make all the speed they can. We've got lots of gasolene, and I guess we can weather almost any blow that's due this time of year."

They were soon speeding away from the pier, and the sharp prow of the _Norma_ was turned in the direction of Cliff Island. Clouds were rapidly gathering and there was an occasional muttering of thunder.

Paul Gale kept to the cabin, as the wind had freshened since they started and there was quite a sea on, that sent the spume and spray of the salty waves across the deck.

They were longer reaching the island than they counted on, and just before they sighted it the storm broke in all its fury. But they were prepared for it, and the _Norma_ plunged gallantly ahead through the smashing big seas of green water that at times buried her nose out of sight. Suddenly there was a slight crash forward and a shiver seemed to go through the gasolene craft.

"What's that?" cried Mr. Racer in alarm.

"We hit something," said Mr. Lacey. "Danforth, just see what it is, will you?" he asked of the mate, who was in the snug cabin with the owner and his guests.

But Mr. Racer did not wait. He rushed up on deck. The _Norma_ had been brought to quarter speed and the silk merchant could see, floating off to one side, a small wrecked skiff. It seemed familiar to him.

"That's what we hit, sir," explained one of crew. "Cut it right in two."

"It's my boys' boat!" cried Mr. Racer. "The one they carry on the _Gull_. I know the shape of it, and I can see the red circle on the stern. Were they in it when we cut it down?"

"No, sir. I don't think so, sir," answered sailor as he noted the anguish of Mr. Racer. "I saw it immediately after we struck, and I'm almost sure no one was in it. I'd have seen them, sir, if there was, sir."

"Oh, but perhaps they were in it!" cried Mr. Racer. "Their sailboat may have foundered and they might have had to take to the small boat.

Oh, Mr. Lacey. We _must_ pick up my boys!" he added, as the owner came on deck.

"Of course. Captain Nelson, put back and circle around that boat.

Light the searchlight and play it on the wreck."

"Aye, aye, sir!"

The _Norma_ began the search amid the storm and gathering darkness, while the father peered over the side in anguished fear.

CHAPTER XXIV

THE ESCAPE

"Climb up, Andy! Climb up! Every time you see a lightning flash!"

"But where are we going, Frank?"

"Out of this cave! Don't you see what has happened? There's a hole in the roof, and it slopes right down to us here. Crawl up on your hands and knees, but don't slip back. It's our only chance!"

It was a few minutes after the stunning crash that had actually opened up a way of escape for the two lads imprisoned in the cave. Frank was quick to see and take advantage of it. A sort of sloping way was now before them, and it was possible to crawl up along it.

But there was danger, too, for the rain was pouring in through the opening in the roof--a veritable stream of water, probably diverted from some puddles that had gathered from the heavy downpour. And to climb up through this, along a muddy, slimy slope, was no easy task.

But it was their only means of escape, for back of them the tide was still rising relentlessly.

"All ready, Andy?" called Frank.

"As ready as I ever shall be," was the grim answer.

"Well, don't move except when you see where you're going by means of the flashes. It's the only safe way. Go ahead; I'll follow."

Slowly the younger lad took his feet and hands from the niches. He was stiff from holding the same position so long, but his young blood was soon in circulation again. He crawled out on the slope. It was quite steep, but considerable earth had been jarred and washed from it so that it was no worse than going up the peaked roof of a house, and Andy and his brother had often done this in carrying out some of their boyish pranks.

Slowly and painfully the younger lad toiled upward, followed by his anxious brother. It was but a comparatively short distance up which to climb, but going on their hands and knees made it seem doubly long.

Finally it was accomplished, however, and Andy crawled out of the ragged hole and stretched out on the wet earth above, almost exhausted.

"Come! Get up!" cried Frank, as he finished the perilous journey and sought to raise his brother. "You mustn't lie there. You'll get cold and stiff. Move around--get warmed up. We're safe now, Andy! Safe!"

"Yes, I know, but I'm so tired--I--I want a rest."

"There'll be time enough to rest when we get to some shelter. It's raining cats and dogs, and we can't get much wetter. Let's see if we can make out where we are, and maybe we can get back to camp, and find some grub. I'm starved."

"So am I. What time is it?"

"My watch has stopped," answered Frank, looking at the timepiece by a lightning flash. "The water did it."

"Mine's not going either. Well, let's see if we can find our camp.

Some grub wouldn't be bad. Only we've got to look out for that man."

"Which side shall we go down?" asked Frank, as they paused on the summit of the cliff.

"It's hard to decide," answered Andy. "Let's try this," and he motioned to the left.

Down they went, slipping and stumbling, pausing now and then to get their breaths, and again to speak of the terrible fate they had escaped.

"Don't mention it any more," begged Andy with a shudder. "I can't bear to think of that tide rising--rising all the while, and no way of getting out!"

"Lightning probably struck a place on where the earth was thinner than anywhere else made a hole, and the rain did the rest," was Frank's theory.

Drenched to the skin, covered with mud from the climb up the slope, tired and weary, the Racer boys stumbled on in the darkness. Sometimes they fell over huge boulders or were tripped on outcropping tree roots.