Once on shore, the old tar said he remembered the locality well, and he did not hesitate in pushing forward, across the path taken by the three Rover boys, and then to a trail which the Rovers had missed. They had to climb a small hill, and here it was that Bahama Bill showed the first signs of perplexity.
"Queer!" he muttered, coming to a halt and gazing around. "Mighty queer!"
"What is queer?" questioned Anderson Rover.
"This looks changed to me. When I was here afore there was a rock yonder, an' the crowd placed a mark on it fer a guide, as I told ye. Ain't no rock there now!" And he scratched his head as if he was afraid he was not seeing aright.
"When you were here was a good many years ago," said Songbird. "The rock may have tum bled down the hill. Let us look around."
This advice was followed, and after a long hunt a rock was found in a hollow. It had a peculiar mark cut upon it.
"That's it!" cried Bahama Bill, in delight. "I knew it must be around here somewhere. But what made that big rock tumble down?"
"Maybe somepody pushed him ofer," said Hans.
"Four men couldn't budge that rock," declared Fred.
