Chapter Seventeen THE END OF THE GREAT ADVENTURE
　　THE three men stood at the edge of the sea, watching George pull away strongly from the shore.
　　They could do nothing. Their boat was quite useless.
　　"The fishing-smack¹ they've got waiting out there is too big to use that little inlet," said George, as shepulled hard at her oars². "They'll have to stay there till someone goes in with a boat. I guess they're aswild as can be!"
　　Their boat had to pass fairly near to the big fishing-boat. A man hailed them as they came by.
　　"Ahoy there! Have you come from Kirrin Island?""Don't answer," said George. "Don't say a word." So no one said anything at all, but looked the otherway as if they hadn't heard.
　　"AHOY THERE!" yelled the man, angrily. "Are you deaf? Have you come from the island?"Still the children said nothing at all, but looked away while George rowed steadily³. The man on theship gave it up, and looked in a worried manner towards the island. He felt sure the children hadcome from there—and he knew enough of his comrades' adventures to wonder if everything wasright on the island.
　　"He may put out a boat from the smack and go and see what's happening," said George. "Well, hecan't do much except take the men off— with a few ingots! I hardly think they'll dare to take any ofthe gold though, now that we've escaped to tell our tale!"85
　　Julian looked behind at the ship. He saw after a time that the little boat it carried was being loweredinto the sea. "You're right," he said to George. "They're afraid something is up. They're going torescue those three men. What a pity!"
　　Their little boat reached land. The children leapt out into the shallow water and dragged it up to thebeach. Tim pulled at the rope too, wagging his tail. He loved to join in anything that the childrenwere doing.
　　"Shall you take Tim to Alf?" asked Dick.
　　George shook her head. "No," she said, "we haven't any time to waste. We must go and telleverything that has happened. I'll tie Tim up to the fence in the front garden."They made their way to Kirrin Cottage at top speed. Aunt Fanny was gardening there. She stared insurprise to see the hurrying children.
　　"Why," she said, "I thought you were not coming back till tomorrow or the next day! Has anythinghappened? What's the matter with Dick's cheek?""Nothing much," said Dick.

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