Sturdy and Strong

a steamer should be engaged to take the whole party with their wives and families down to Gravesend. They were to make an early start, and on arriving there all were to do as they p

of the steamer, and were delighted with their voyage down, their only regret being that Mrs. Andrews had d

till two, so we have two good hours before us. I vote we hire a boat and go o

ats belonging to barges which had been sometimes lent them for half an ho

g chaps?" the waterman, whom

George replied with t

unning out strong,"

wered, scarce heeding his words; and

clubhouses. These were new craft to them, and the beauty and neatness of everything struck them with surprise and admiration. Tide had

er, and sat idly on their oars talking over the distant voyage on which she was probably about to start, and the country she might visit, George was telling his companion

d. It is two miles, I should think, from the town. We mu

shore, and turning the boat's head they set to work to row back in the middle of the river. Their knowledge of rowing was but slight, and the

xclamation of surprise and dismay. Neither the ship nor Gravesend were visible. Their puny efforts had availed nothing agains

uoy; we are going past it as fast as a horse could trot. L

plied. "Where shall we go

aid. "I do not know how far it is; but the r

ed, "the tide will turn

nd side. I vote we pull to them and ask the men what we had better do. Anyhow we could row to the land and get out there and wait till tide turns. It turned at about eleven, so that it will turn a

y; "this is a regular venture, this is; but I

heap when he sees we couldn't help it. He looked a good-tempered sort of

t was a large and heavy one, and t

etting!" George e

ented. "My eye, George,

edge when they made the discovery. Another two minutes and it rolled thickly over them,

rge?" Bill said at leng

s no use rowing, that I see, for we don't k

hilosophically. "I am going to have a p

ipe, Bill, but keep your oar in

d. "I thought you said i

rolled suddenly. "It's lucky we were pretty well over towards the side of the river, before the fog came on. Listen-there's another. I can hear the beat of her engines. I have an idea, Bill!" he exclaimed su

d, laying down the pipe he had just l

. "Why, how can that be! Oh, I suppose one is coming u

a of the proper direction; but they could only row a few strokes at a

le to direct those on deck as to their course. Had it not been for this the steamers must all have anchored. As it was they procee

nded on the edge of a mud flat. They could not see the bank, and had no idea how far distant

and, look here, we must keep the boat afloat just at the edge of the mud. If we were to get left here we should not float again till tide

white vapor which surrounded them. "It regular confuses a chap. I say, I ex

ore hungry before we are done; but I am so glad we have found the

og keeps on how are we to fin

e edge of the mud-just as close as the boat will swim.

ve. I should never have thought about the way to find the bank if it hadn't b

n't last for

known them last

not in Aug

e these here fogs may last just as long down he

us; we have got the land for a guide, and I hope we

we don't

and use our senses. If we had something to eat I shouldn't mind a bit, except that mother will be getting anxious about us. It's a regular

they sat a

e rattle of a chain. I expect it's a barge anchoring som

The shout was repeated not very far off, an

lost our way," George shouted back. "We

lied; "I will go on shouti

ds, and then a voice clo

r you will be a

ows of a barge. Half a dozen more strokes and they were alongside. Bill seize

here?" one of the bargemen asked. "It's lucky fo

their voyage and how they ha

chaps your age would just have sat in the boat and howled, and a good many lon

e we?" Ge

ee parts down Sea Reach. We know our way pretty well even in a fog, but we agreed i

e Swashway?"

ht; but these fogs are worse than anything. It aint no use groping about for the buoy when you can't see ten yards ahead, and you might find yourself high and dry on the mud and

soon satisfying their hunger on bread and cold meat. The bargee

on board the Sarah and Jane. I like a drop on shore, but it aint stuff to have on a barge, where you wants

turned, and then to keep as close to the shore as we could until we got back to Gravesend. Th

hours easy, but not close inshore. The tide don't help you much there, and half your time

ould you adv

ce at all. We will see how things are going

deck, followed by the boys. The white f

ou think o

, or we shan't make Sheerness to-night, much less Rochester. Yes, that's a puff sure enough. You are in luck, you

and tiny ripples swept across

n said. "I'd bet a pot of beer as the fog

ronger came the

er a dull, uniform whitish-gray; dark shadows seemed to flit acro

d suddenly, but ere George could t

l make it four o'clock," he added, consulting his watch, "and the young flood will be coming up soon afterwards, and I shall go up with the first of it to Rochester. We shall get there maybe

rge said; "but what are

ikely next morning, and I will take her along and

s Kit

I know

will expect a great deal of money, for it has been away al

itson as how you have been shipwrecked, and he will think himself precious lucky in getting the boat without be

" George said; "though, you se

ed out to sea, as he expects you have by this time, and the boat didn't get smashed by a steamer, you would likely enough have been taken off by one of them; but the captain wouldn't

he brail of the mainsail was loosed, and the great sail shaken out. The foresail was hoist

ver the river ahead, but this was rapidly melting away; and the bargeman, who told th

hand to get up the topsail. The wind is rising every mi

d when the fog was thickest, and were, like her, making their way to Sheerness. The wind was blo

t barges sailed so

they can only just carry their topsails, they will hold their own with pretty nigh anyth

help them up to Rochester. At six o'clock they were again under way. The wind had fortunately veered round somewhat to the north of west, and they were ab

geman said; "I will put you ashore at once. Ther

ore and hurried up to the station. They found that there would be

. Will bring her back on return trip. No damage done. William Atkins." This he had handed to the boys, and they now

we expected," George said; "but

iddle of that fog listening to them whistles and trying to find ou

an idea where we were. I was worrying most about mother getting anxious if we did not get back to-night, and a little about what we should have to pay for the

He was a good un, and no mistake. It aint

ll, we should have paid two shillings for the boat anyhow, and I expect we should have spent another shilling apiece in things at the gardens, perhaps more; that would

ways thought as adventures was jolly; but that didn't seem to me to have no jolliness about it, not when we was out there. It's all very well to hear tell of shipw

nd the five bob would come upon him unexpectedly. He was going to tell Kitson that he had arranged with us that was what we were

f the house by Bob Grimston

the missis has done nothing but worry and fidget. It's regular spoilt the day. What have you been up to? I haven't

was not altogether our fault. We went for a row, and the t

orried all day. I did think as you warn't like other boys, but could be trusted, and then y

o sorry you have been uneasy about us, awfully sorr

in a few minutes ago. I had been expecting you in for some little time, but I supposed the steamer was late, and I was not at all uneasy till Mr. Grimston

is at the door

not come home to-night, and to make inquiries about you there. He tried to cheer me up by saying that as you were together nothing could very well happen to you and that

ll about it in the morning, but would go off to tell his wife at once that

Mrs. Andrews at once laid the table for supper; and when they

r run down by a steamer in the fog. I hope to-night that you will neither of you forget to thank God for his pr

eed, they had, in some respects, justified his opinion of them. Mrs. Grimstone, however, was not so easily pacified. They had come back, she said; but it was more than likely that they wouldn't have come back

reply a letter from him saying that the boat had been brought safely b

fair as I didn't expect to see the color of your money. It aint everyone as would

ound the barge there when they rowed up to the spot. She had but just returned from a trip to Rochester and Bill Atkins was still on board. He was very glad to see the boys, but t

it wouldn't be manners to say no. Well, look here, any time as you are disposed for a sail down to Ro

e was but small chance of their being able to accept it, but that they shoul