They worked over their bonds until their wrists were cut and bleeding and then gave the task up.

It was so dark they could see each other but dimly, and the darkness and quietness made them anything but lighthearted.
"Supposing some wild beast comes to chew us up," said Sam, presently, after a silence that was positively painful.
"We know there are no big beasts on these islands," answered Dick.
"Don't worry yourself unnecessarily, Sam.

We've got troubles enough as it is." "The only beasts here are human beasts," said Tom, "and their names are Merrick, Sobber, Cuffer and Shelley," and he said this so dryly his brothers had to laugh.
Slowly the night wore away, each hour dragging more than that which preceded it.

Two or three times the boys tried again to liberate themselves, but fared no better than before, indeed, Dick fared worse, for he came close to spraining his left wrist.

The pain for a while was intense and it was all he could do to keep from crying out.
"I'd like to know what time it is," said Sam, when the first streak of dawn began to show among the trees.
"And I'd like to know if Merrick has found the treasure cave," added Dick.
"It will soon be morning," came from Tom, and he was right.