Part 26 (1/2)

The boys remained in and out of the water the best part of two hours.

It was so inviting all hated to think of dressing again. They had a game of tag and kept poor Hans ”it” for a long while, until, in fact, the German youth was out of breath and had to give it up.

”I ton't run me no more, py golly!” panted Hans. ”Of you vonts to been caught you caught yourselfs alretty!” And at this remark all of the others roared.

”I shouldn't mind our situation a bit if only we were certain the others were safe,” remarked d.i.c.k, when they were dressing. ”But when I think of Fred, Songbird, and Harold Bird--” He did not finish, but shook his head sorrowfully.

”It makes a fellow sick, doesn't it?” returned Sam. ”Oh, I do hope they are safe!”

”I'll tell you one thing,” came from Tom, walking up at this moment.

”This swim has made me as hungry as a bear.”

”Tom, did you ever know the time you weren't hungry?” demanded his elder brother.

”Sure,” answered the fun-loving Rover, with a broad grin.

”When?” demanded both of the others.

”Directly after a good, square meal!” answered Tom, and then dodged hurriedly, to escape the shoe d.i.c.k hurled at him.

CHAPTER XIX

THE STORM ON THE GULF

”Boys, we are going to have a corker of a storm if ever there was one.”

”I believe you, d.i.c.k. My, how the black clouds are rolling up!”

”And just when we were doing so nicely too.”

The three Rover boys had come to the deck in a bunch, directly after the bath and a hearty meal.

It was d.i.c.k who had noticed the black clouds rolling up so suddenly and had called the attention of the others.

”How kvick der veader can change,” sighed Hans. ”Ven ve vos in schwimming I d.i.n.k it vos lofely for a veek, ain't it!”

The boys had a good fire under the boiler and had tested the engine, to find it now in good working order. From one of the new joints the steam bubbled the least bit, but not sufficiently to do any harm or cause alarm. d.i.c.k had tried the wheel, to find it in the best of order. It thrilled him to take hold of the spokes and make the steam yacht answer to his will.

”I don't wonder some men wish to be pilots,” he had said. ”It's great to have a big steamer do just as you want her to.” Then he had run the vessel around in the form of the figure 8, just to ”get the knack of it,” as he said.

”Shall we start for land in such a storm as this?” asked Sam. ”It might drive us up on the rocks somewhere.”

”We're a good way from land, Sam. Let us see what the storm will do first.”

The black clouds increased rapidly, until the whole sky was overcast.

Then a strong wind sprang up and the gulf was covered with whitecaps as far as the eye could reach.

”It's coming!” cried Sam, as the big raindrops began to fall. ”We may as well get out of the wet.”