“It seems to me as if the wreck was shifting,” cried Dick presently.

“It won’t shift very far in this bed o’ sand, lad.  But she may break up and go to pieces,” added old Jerry.

“If she goes down, we’ll be drowned like rats in a trap,” said Dick.  “We must get out somehow.”

They talked the matter over and began a systematic examination of their prison.  The four walls were solid and so was the ceiling above them.

“The flooring has a couple of loose planks in it,” announced.  Dick.  “If we can get them up, where will the opening lead to?”

“The forward hold, lad, and that is now half full of sand and water.”

“Never mind, I’m going to get the planks up if I can.”

With his head still aching Dick set to work and old Jerry helped him.  It was no easy matter to shift the heavy planking, but after a while they got one plank up and then used this as a pry to bring up the second.

A dark hole was revealed, covered at the bottom with water.  Then Dick took the lantern and let himself down cautiously.

“The water is only about a foot deep,” he announced.  “I’m going to make a search around with the lantern.”

“Hold on, I’ll go with ye,” cried old Jerry, and came down with a splash.

With great caution they moved around the hold, wading through sand and water, and climbing over boxes, barrels, and crates.

“What a mixture of cargo,” said Dick.  “And what a pity so much of it is going to ruin,” and he pointed to some valuable mining machinery which was rusting in the salt water.

Fortunately old Jerry had been in the hold before the Golden Wave was wrecked, so he knew something of the surroundings.  He led the way to some boxes directly beneath the forward hatch.

“I don’t reckon the hatch is fastened down,” he said.  “An’ if it aint we may be able to shove it up by standing one box on top of another.”

This was tried, and after much difficulty the hatch was thrown to one side, and they crawled to the deck of the schooner.

“I’m glad I am out of that!” ejaculated Dick.  “But how it’s raining!  Let us go to the cabin for shelter.”

Once in the cabin they proceeded to make themselves as comfortable as the state of affairs permitted.

“With no boat it is going to be no easy matter getting back to the house,” said Dick.  He was much worried concerning the girls.

“We’ll have to stay here until the storm is over,” said old Jerry.

But Dick demurred and at last it was decided to try getting to the house by journeying from one island to the next.

This was a dangerous proceeding, as we already know.  They had to build themselves a small raft and carry this from one crossing to the next.

By the time the last crossing was made the storm was clearing and the day was drawing to a close.

“We had best not show ourselves until we are sure how the land lays,” said Dick, as they came up the beach.