“I give it up, unless it was a bear,” said Tom.

“I think I know what it was,” said the captain.  “A big baboon or a gorilla.”

“I guess you are right, captain,” answered Tom.  “I saw a gorilla in a menagerie, and it was exactly like that beast.  But what a big fellow he was!”

“Gorillas are highly dangerous, especially when cornered,” said Captain Blossom.  He himself was more frightened than he cared to admit.  “They have been known to carry a man off in their arms and bite him to death.”

“Thanks, but I want no gorillas around me,” declared Sam.

They waited several minutes before advancing again.  But the gorilla had disappeared, nor did it show itself again during that trip on the island.

Half an hour brought them in sight of the seashore once more.  They were gazing at the sea when Tom happened to glance back, and on the hill behind them saw four goats standing in a bunch, looking at them in astonishment.

“Quick! out of sight!” he cried, and dragged the others behind some trees.

“What did you see?”

“Several goats.  Perhaps, if we are careful, we can get a shot at them.  Fresh goat meat won’t go bad.”

“What’s the matter with capturing some of the goats and getting the milk?” came from Sam.

“You’ll have a job catching wild goats,” answered Captain Blossom.  “They are as fleet of foot as deer.”

It was decided to try two shots at the goats, providing they could get close enough.  With care they plunged into the undergrowth and made their way back up the hillside until they thought they must be within fifty yards of the game.

“There they are!” cried Tom softly.

Bang! went the captain’s gun, and crack!  Tom fired immediately after.  Two of the goats were hit, and one fell dead.  The other staggered away with a broken foreleg.

“We must get that second fellow!” cried Sam, and rushed after the game.  The goat tried to turn on him, but Sam hit the beast over the head with a club he carried.  Two other blows finished the animal.

“That isn’t bad,” said the captain.  “They both look to be young.  They ought to make good eating.”

“We are going to have no easy work of it, getting these animals down to the shore,” said Tom.

“After we get them to the shore, what then?” questioned his brother.  “We can’t keep them in the boat all the time that we are exploring the other islands.”

“We had best make a trip back to the house,” answered Captain Blossom.  “If the others heard the shots they’ll be wondering what has happened; besides, a storm is coming up.”

The captain said he would carry the smaller of the goats alone, leaving the two Rovers to carry the larger game between them.  After a rest and another look around the vicinity, they started for the boat and reached it after a walk which almost exhausted every one of the party.