“Hardly likely.  What would you say, Joe?  Ever been ashore here?”

The boy shook his head in the negative.

“Not me.  This is my first trip up this far.  Been down the coast, below Cedar Keys, more’n once.  But I believe Jerry likes to hunt.  Perhaps he might think it a good time to look around, and see if there happens to be a deer waiting to be cooked up.”

Frank laughed.

“You’ve got Jerry sized up to a pretty fine point, boy.  That’s his weakness to a dot, and I wouldn’t put it past him to wander off.  I only hope he doesn’t go and get lost.  That would delay us, even if nothing worse came of it”

“There!”

As Will made this utterance there came the sharp report of a gun from the mainland, and undoubtedly the rifle was that of their absent chum.

“Wonder what he’s struck now?” said Frank.

There came two more reports, in quick succession.

Bluff was already hastening in from the oyster bar, staggering under his load.

“Hey!  D’ye hear all that shooting, fellows?  Jerry’s in some sort of trouble, I’ll bet my hat!” he shouted excitedly.

“And we are unable to get ashore, for he has the only boat, and the water is too shallow to push the big craft in.  The question is, what shall we do?”

Frank looked into the faces of his two chums, and saw by their increasing pallor that they more than shared the fears that were beginning to gnaw at his heart in connection with the safety of the genial, good-natured Jerry Wallington.

CHAPTER XIX

WHAT HAPPENED TO JERRY

“I’d give something for a pair of wings just now!” exclaimed Will regretfully.

“Or that bally old balloon of Professor Smythe’s, eh?” echoed Bluff, as he surveyed the stretch of water separating them from the mainland.

“But something must be done!  Bluff, get your gun!”

Frank was hastily removing the tennis shoes he wore aboard the boat.

“What’re you going to do?” demanded Will, as Bluff made haste to obey.

“Two of us must get ashore.  Perhaps Jerry needs help.”

“Oh!  I see!  And you think you can wade there?” queried Will, as he saw Frank drawing on the second pair of heavy shoes, that had already been in the water.

“That’s what we have to do.  Ready, Bluff?” cried Frank, snatching up his own double-barreled shotgun.

“Where do I come in?” demanded Will as they slid overboard.

“You’re the goalkeeper this time.  Hold the ship, with Joe, here, till we get back.”

“And they’ve taken all the guns along,” grumbled Will as he watched his two chums making their splashing way in the direction of the shore.

Happening to bethink himself of the old revolver on board, Will presently armed himself with the same, and tried to imagine that he presented an imposing appearance as the guardian of the motor-boat.  Truth to tell, he would have really been far more dangerous handling his favorite camera, for he did not have it in him to harm a flea, if he could help it.