ave to. Never mind where we strike the shore on
the other side--we won't try to come out just at our camp. I only hope
we can make it above the mouth of our creek, because if we go below
that point we might drift twenty miles, clear to the far end of the
bay. Don't pull too hard now and get fagged, but keep up a steady lick.
Jesse, you'd better get in the stem and let John and Skookie each pull
an oar. I'll take the other pair. Get your tin pail ready, Jesse, and if
we take in any water, keep it bailed out the best you can."

The others were plucky, although every one was anxious. The little crew
kept sturdily at the oars, facing what was a situation serious enough to
daunt even the strongest men. These Alaskan storms are dangerous even to
the most powerful vessels, and no coast in the world has a longer record
of shipwreck and lost vessels of which no trace ever is found.

When once fairly out in the middle of the bay, the boys got a notion of
the power of the sea such as they never before had known in their lives
and thought never again to repeat. Clouds now obscured the sky. The wind
increased steadily, coming in directly from the mouth of the great bay,
and bringing with it all the power of the mighty Pacific Ocean. As these
young adventurers looked over their shoulders it was a truly terrifying
spectacle which met their gaze.

In steady succession, a few moments apart, there came down into the
bay, apparently reaching from side to side across it, long black hills
of water, great, roller-like waves which did not break but came in black
and oily. Each one, as it towered above the little boat, seemed about to
engulf it, but in some way the splendid little dory found its way up the
side and across the crest; and then they would see the great, silent
black hill of water swing on into the bay and pass out of sight, only to
be followed by another. The wind was not yet strong enough to break the
tops of the waves, and fortunately the tide was coming in, so that there
were no rips, which would surely have swamped their little craft.

"Keep on pulling, boys!" cried Rob. "We're doing finely. She rides these
big waves like a duck. She's a splendid boat!"

Skookie did not say anything, but once in a while cast an anxious eye
toward the head of the bay.

"Is it all right, Skookie?" asked Rob.

"I dinno," answered Skookie, and bent again to his oar.

"So long as the sea doesn't break," said Rob, "we can ride these rollers