The Adventure Club Afloat

ined Phil at the side of the boat, and, in the

instant. "There's surf there, or I'm

ly thing for us to try is another direction." He swung the wheel well to port and slid the clutch in gently and, with the engine throttled down, the Adventurer nosed forward once more. "Phil,

head, Steve!

g?" shouted Steve as

n hear the wa

ing. Steve gazed dazedly from fog to compass and from c

g it, there can't be land on all sides!" He pulled the bow still further to port and again started. "Keep

ning outboard over the deck rail, said: "It's not so

," suggested Perry. "Anyh

ntly. Then Phil sounded another warning. "Hold up, Steve! I

. Then, dropping to his knees and steadying himself by the flag-pole, he listened. Quite plainly and, as it seemed, from alarmingly nearby, came the gentle swish-swash of tiny waves breaking on a beach

nd, after five minutes, Steve gave a sigh of relief. "I guess we're all right now," he muttered to Joe, "but I'm going to keep her just moving. We might anchor, I suppose, but it's dollars to doughnuts we'd have to spend the night here; wherever here is," he added, scowling resentfully at the chart. "Look here, Joe." He reached forward and laid a finger on the map. "Here's where we were, or where we ought to have been, when we heard

! We're running

bow. Steve thrust Joe aside and seizing

here!" shouted Phil.

ted and began to churn her way backward. Perry, boat-hook in hand, was sliding and stumbling along the wet deck. He reached the bow just in time to see the menacing

pulling himself back to saf

ost fell overboard!

d Steve called anxiously from the whee

ut ten feet high!

d. "We're cornered in here, see? Here's the shore on that side and the jetty dead ahead of us. How we got here I

anchor where we

harbour right around the end of the jetty. Se

ervous. First thing we know we'll-um-we'll be running into the First National Bank or the Con

and in silence for a moment. Then:

es

d find the harbour. If you see a red spar buoy, sing out. Sing out if you see anythin

used, went back and again moved forward, Steve turning the wheel slowly with

s that?

nd-lubber! H

e until we were almost on the break

e died away

at?" ask

apping. It may be agai

grey void with little sound save the slow working of the engine below deck and the lazy thud of the propeller. It was so quiet that when

ether we run ashore or stay afloat.

t if you feel a bump, put out your alco

't wait down there to see wh

ou chaps?" asked

a thing," an

ute you see anything. You needn't worry. She's only crawlin

y. For all the watchers could tell, the Adventurer never altered her course, but Steve, his gaze on the compass card, knew that she was headed now straight east. Now and then he peered questioningl

oard, Steve! Not v

ust enough noise from the engine to

louder," called St

ed Phil. "I think we'

ow." He moved the wheel over slowly, spoke by spoke. "Keep your horn going, Perry

ounds that reached them from outside the boat were dist

thing I've heard all day! That means w

," suggested Ossie,

e bow anchor!"

ist. "All right, sir!" he annou

an," directed Steve. There was a splash, followed by the rasping of the cable through the chock and then

ted the Captain g

it?" h

ered the compass and drew down the lid of the chart box and stretched his arms luxur

Cap! Ready in

ough. Some of you chaps pull the side curtains down on

was rolling in from the s

l swing around in a few minutes because the ti

asked Joe, following the other down to the cabin. "I wouldn

ght bells and was instantly echoed from further away.

cabin. "Two minutes after if our clock's right. Say, Steve,

on. "Now that it's over, Joe, I don't mind telling you that I was a bit

dn't yo

thoughtfully, "but I think it was chie

the forward cabin. "All hand