At any rate, we'll pull down there and make inquiries." A few minutes later the skiff was run ashore near the beacon blaze that Winn Caspar had left on the eastern side of the island, and its occupants were searching the vicinity for those whom Billy Brackett had so confidently expected to find near it.
"It is very strange," he muttered.

"Some one must have built this fire; but why he did so if he didn't want to camp beside it beats me.
Hello! What's this?
Hooray; we are on the right track after all! But what foolishness is that boy up to?
and what can he be doing on this island?
Thirdly, where is the raft?
Eh, Bim! You haven't seen a stray raft round here, have you?
No.

I thought you would have mentioned it if you had.

So he is on this island is he?
and leaves word that we can find him by following the trail?
Perhaps the trail leads to the raft; but where is the trail?
Hello! you've struck it, have you?
Good dog! Here, let me tie this bit of twine to your collar.

There, now you're better than a lantern." As we all know, the trail upon which Billy Brackett and Bim were thus started led directly to the log-hut in the forest.