Part 8 (1/2)

”That,” spoke Captain Toet there But swi on this island that even looks like a boat See here, Joe, you and Hank trot up to the bungalow and tell Mr Seaton e've seen The 'Restless' is at anchor in the cove yonder There are plenty of logs up at the bungalow Coh to buoy us up in the water, yet not so big but e can steer it while swiths of that quarter-inch cord fro, will you, fellows?”

After Joe and Hank had departed, To behind the four distant ports until it disappeared Then he looked at the waves long and wonderingly

”It's a big chance to take I don't knohether we can ever get out there in a sea like this,” he et control of our own boat again? Our own boat--the good old 'Restless'! Joe isn't saying ; he never does, but I kno he feels over the stealing of the boat and the chance that bunglersthis coast!”

A fewfootsteps

Joe and Hank hove into sight out of the deep gloo on their shoulders

”Good enough,” nodded Halstead, eyeing the log approvingly ”Noade into the water with it, and let's see whether it will buoy us all up at need”

All three waded out with the log, until they were in nearly up to their shoulders

”Now, hang to it, and see if it will hold us up,” co bore the in, hurled theround

”Now, first of all, let's lash our clubs to the log,” suggested the young skipper This was soon accomplished Then each of the Motor Boat Club boys th of the cord fast around his chest, under the arm-pits

”The next trick,” proposed Halstead, ”is to h so that you can sell clear of the log itself, and yet be able to haul yourselves back to the log in case you find your strength giving out”

This took some calculation, but at last the three ht feet of line was the proper length This decided, and acco down into the water, and pushed resolutely off into the blackness

Even Tom Halstead, who allowed himself few doubts, little believed that they could accoh sea

CHAPTER V

TOM MATCHES ONE TRICK WITH ANOTHER

At the outset Joe swa riding ahead To the timber that was to be their buoy when needed

All three, reared at the edge of salt water, as they had been, were strong, splendid swih waves, the feat was especially dangerous

”Swiot_ to,” was the young skipper's terse advice as they started

It became a contest of endurance Toedly determined to reach their boat or perish in the atteh perhaps possessing less fine courage than either of his coer as a joke This may have been a pretense, yet in tirit

Any one of the three could have swuht the feat was a vastly sterner one Hank was the first to give out, after going a little , throwing his right ar on while the two Maine boys pushed and towed it Finally, when young butts had broken away to swi for a while At last it cahty Tom Halstead's turn to seek this aid to buoyancy

Nor had they covered half the distance, in all, when all three found theed, riding the waves Worst of all, despite their exertions, all three now found their teeth chattering

”Say, it begins to look like a crazy undertaking,” declared Hank, with blunt candor ”Can we possibly ot to,” retorted Tom Halstead, his will power unshaken