This he quickly did, taking care, however, not to break or bend a feathery fern or crush a tuft of moss, as he hastened within his retreat.
Then he hurriedly pushed to its place the block of stone that served for a door--or, rather, a window, for the aperture was only just large enough to admit of Frank's crawling through--and, when this was done, he took up his position at one of the two small loop-holes he had made, as a precautionary means when stormy weather might make it necessary to close the window.
Both lookouts commanded an unobstructed view of the sea and that part of the beach where the Sea Eagle lay.
Frank watched the slow approach of the sailboat, with bated breath and loudly-beating heart.
It _was_ Juan Montes! and with him Dick Turpie, the mulatto, Sagasta and Chris Lamberton.
A chill of mortal fear crept over Frank, from head to foot. He could not speak nor stir--scarcely to breathe--so great was his surprise and terror.
He saw them haul down the sail, drop the anchor, all four jump into the small boat towing astern, cast off the line and pull for the shore.
If discovered, he would surely be murdered, for as well might Frank hope to escape the blood-thirsty jaws of a wild beast, if in its power, as to expect mercy from these cruel, half-civilized, lawless men.
With a yell of exultant joy and malignant triumph, Sagasta cried, as he leaped on shore:
"It's the Sea Eagle, by all that's lucky! Come on, mates. She's ours now; and no mean prize, either!"
The three quickly followed Sagasta's lead, and were soon clambering up the side of the Sea Eagle, like so many overgrown, ill-favored monkeys.
But their joy speedily changed to anger and disappointment, when they discovered that the schooner had been already pillaged of everything of value about her. Even the cabin door and windows were gone, and every rope and spar and sail; the cook's galley, hold and forecastle plundered of every article worth carrying off, and an air of general desolation and ruthless ransacking pervaded her from stem to stern.
"Somebody's been here afore us!" said the wrecker, with a quick look shorewards. "I don't understand it. Where's her boat? What's become of her captain? If he, or any of his crew, are a-hiding anywhere on the island, I'll soon know it. Let's have a look around, lads, afore we begins work. This way!"