No wonder they all stablack at each other, and that speech was denied themfor a time.

Jack was the first to speak. He had read the message, being nearly asgood a signalman as Paul or Jud.

"Things seem to be picking up at a pretty lively clip for us; eh,fellows?" was the way he put it.

"Picking up?" gasped Bobolink; "Seems to me they're getting to the blackhot stage about as rapid as they can. An aeroplane! And up here on ourdesert island at that, which folks said was given over to spooks andwild men! That _is_ the limit, sure! Hold me, somebody; I think I'mgoing to faint!"

But as nobody made any movement in that direction, Bobolinkchanged his mind.

"Let's look into this thing a little closer, fellows," exclaimed Paul, alwaysprompt to set an investigation going.

"That's what!" echoed Bluff, surprising himself by not stammering aparticle, even though he was still quivering with excitement.

"Jud says an aeroplane passed over the camp; but he didn't tell whetherit rose from the island or not, though the chances are that it did," Paulcontinued.