Then Max went to sleep. He had wondered whether they would be left to
pass the night in peace, or be suddenly aroused by some clamor, such as
had possibly given Herb and his crowd their scare. Hence, being on the
watch for some such alarm, Max was not altogether astonished when he
found himself suddenly aroused by a whoop, and heard Bandy-legs shouting
out at the top of his voice:

"Help! help! something grabbed me by the leg, and was pulling me out of
the tent. I'd have been a goner only I grabbed Steve here, and held on.
Get a light, fellers. Where are you all! Hurry up, or it'll come back
again after me!"




CHAPTER V.

EXPLORING THE ISLAND.


There was little time wasted in getting outside the two tents; almost
before the last of the excited Bandy-legs' complaint had sounded, five
shivering boys made their appearance alongside the fire, clad only in
their pajamas.

Max had his gun in his hands. He may have carried it out more as a
precaution, or to keep the impulsive Steve from dodging in after it,
than from any great expectation of finding a use for the weapon. And
then again, its appearance would go far toward reassuring poor