The Hilltop Boys on Lost Island

The Hilltop Boys on Lost Island

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Title: The Hilltop Boys on Lost Island
Author: Cyril Burleigh
Release Date: February 2, 2005 [EBook #14879]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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THE HILLTOP BOYS ON LOST ISLAND
BY CYRIL BURLEIGH
AUTHOR OF "THE HILLTOP BOYS" AND OTHER STORIES
THE GOLDSMITH PUBLISHING CO.
CLEVELAND MADE IN U.S.A.
1917
PRESS OF
THE COMMERCIAL BOOKBINDING CO. CLEVELAND
[Illustration: _He plunged the blade into the creature's vitals_.]
CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
I THE FLOATING ACADEMY 13 II JACK'S DARING RESCUE 22
III THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS 29 IV CAUGHT ON LOST
ISLAND 37 V EXPLORING THE ISLAND 45 VI A WALK UNDER
WATER 54 VII A REMARKABLE FIND 63 VIII DISCUSSING THE
FIND 70 IX THE LAST VISIT TO THE WRECK 81 X A
THRILLING ENCOUNTER 89 XI THE VOICES IN THE WOODS
98 XII ADVENTURES IN THE WOODS 107 XIII A STRANGE
LIGHT AT SEA 118 XIV THE MAN WITH THE WHITE
MUSTACHE 125 XV JESSE W. IS SENT FOR HELP 132 XVI
BEN'S STRANGE STORY 140 XVII DISCOVERIES AND
DISAPPOINTMENTS 148 XVIII IN THE LAIR OF THE FOX 160
XIX THE WAY OUT FOUND 170

THE HILLTOP BOYS ON LOST ISLAND

CHAPTER I
THE FLOATING ACADEMY
"Well, if this is a life on the ocean wave or anything like it, I am
satisfied to remain on shore."
"I knew that the Hudson river could cut up pretty lively at times, but
the frolics of the Hudson are not a patch on this."
"They said we would not be seasick, but if I am not I don't know what
you call it. I don't want it any worse, at any rate."
"They said it wouldn't hurt any if you were sick, but I wonder if they
ever tried it themselves?"
"No, they are like the old bachelors who write about how to bring up
children. They never had any, so they don't know anything about

them."
"Well, if we get much more of this I shall get out and walk."
"And I'll go with you, my boy."
There were three boys on the deck of a large steam yacht, now about
two days out from New York, bound to the West Indies on a voyage
combining pleasure and education.
The boys belonged to the Hilltop Academy, situated in the Highlands
of the Hudson, and their names were Billy Manners, Harry Dickson,
and Arthur Warren, all being close chums, and ready to share any
adventure except that of being seasick.
They were none of them sick, but they were all afraid they would be,
hence their remarks upon the subject.
There were close upon a hundred of the Hilltop Boys, and they were
now on a tour of the islands of the Spanish Main, having been invited
by the father of one of them, a man largely interested in the shipping
business, who had put at their service a commodious steam yacht large
enough to hold them all.
Besides the boys there were Dr. Theophilus Wise, the principal, and a
number of his instructors, the negro coachman at the Academy, who
was now serving in the capacity of cook and general handy man to the
doctor and the boys, and the captain and crew, a considerable party all
told.
The sky was bright, there was none too much motion, and there was
really no reason why a lot of healthy boys should be seasick, and
perhaps they only feared they would be, and were just a little
uncomfortable.
They were to spend the Easter vacation and a few weeks longer among
the islands, continuing their studies as usual, and getting a knowledge
of geography and of many other things, which they could not get by

merely studying books, Dr. Wise having practical ideas on these points,
and having now a chance to carry them out through the generosity of
Mr. Smith, the shipping merchant, who had furnished the yacht.
His son, Jesse W., one of the youngest boys at the Academy, had been
found and brought home when lost on the mountains by one of the
Hilltop boys by the name of Jack Sheldon, a general favorite at the
Academy, and it was in recognition of this act that he had decided to
give the boys this glorious vacation.
As the three boys were complaining