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DAVE PORTER ON CAVE ISLAND

"Maybe it's a camp of some sort," replied Roger. "It seems to be quite a distance away."

"Shall we go and see what it is?"

"Hadn't we better get the others first, Dave?"

"All right, if you think best."

So they continued on the way to where the rowboat had been left. They came up to find that Captain Sanders and Phil had not yet returned. Smiley was snoring on the sand, while Billy Dill sat near by on guard.

"Find anybody?" queried the old tar, eagerly.

"We found one of the caves, and we saw a light at a distance," answered Dave. "We want to investigate that light, as soon as the others get back."

Dave and Roger sat down, to rest and to wait, and thus another half-hour went by. With nothing else to do, Billy Dill took a nap, and the boys allowed the old sailor to slumber on.

"It's queer the captain and Phil don't return," remarked Roger, presently. "They must have gone much further than we did."

"Maybe they fell into one of those caves, Roger."

"Oh, I trust not!"

Another half-hour went by and still the others did not put in an appearance. By this time Dave was getting worried.

"Let us take a walk along the shore and look