ts of times, but always arrived at the same old point--that I couldn't
guess in a year what it meant," laughed the other.

"Do you think it could be a joke?" asked Will.

"Never. My dad was too serious when he gave it to me; and besides, he
never jokes like that. We must wait a little while, and then learn the
truth. Depend on it, he had a good reason for what he did. I expect we'll
get something of a big surprise."

"There comes Bluff, and I really believe the fellow's got some oysters
opened, by the way he carries that kettle," said Will.

"And just look at the expression on his face, will you? A fellow who had
won a first prize in school could hardly seem more tickled."

"Oh, I've got 'em, all right, boys, about a big quart, too, and only cut
myself half a dozen times," cried Bluff, laughing as he scrambled aboard.

"And I give you fair warning that those cuts will hurt worse to-morrow
than they do now. Let me see. Well, they do look pretty fine. I reckon
you've got lots of broken shells in with the oysters, so I'll take care
to strain the mess. How shall we have them for the first, boys?" asked
Frank.

"I'm just hankering for scalloped oysters, but perhaps a stew would be
easier to start with. We have the unsweetened milk, you know, and they
say that answers first rate. How are you on that, Frank?"

"I can manage it first rate. Are you fond of a stew, Will?"

"Yes. I like them any way. But I was watching Jerry out there. What under
the sun is he doing?"

Frank cast a quick glance out over the water.

"He's got a fish on, and it seems to be a big one, too!" he exclaimed.

"Why, it's pulling his boat around like fun! Look at that, will you? Say!
be careful, Jerry, or overboard you go!" shrieked Will.

"There! He's headed this way, now, and going faster than ever! I never
saw such a thing before, in all my life! What can it be, Frank?" cried
Bluff, excited.

"I don't know for certain, but I'd venture to say he's fast to a shark!"
answered Frank, hurrying to the side of the motor-boat to see better.

"A shark! Great Caesar's ghost! What will become of him? Why, the brute
is carrying our pard off! There he goes, faster and faster, and headed
straight out toward the open gulf! Jerry, let him go!" called Will in his
excitement.

Jerry, in the little cockleshell of a dinghy, was whirling past as this
cry rang out. He turned to wave a hand at his chums, and they heard him
singing:

"A life on the ocean wa