at! The fog? Bless your innocent heart, no! What do you think it would
be like--just a dreary blank plate. You can't see anything, so how could
it show up in a picture?" jeered Will.

"I wonder some bright genius hasn't discovered some sort of magic glasses
that will let a fellow see through fog? What a blessing they would be to
sailors, and the pilots of ferryboats in New York harbor," observed Bluff
thoughtfully.

"Suppose you devote your spare time to solving that riddle? Listen! Was
that a shout then?"

"Sounded like it to me; but who would be shouting out here in the fog?"
replied Bluff scornfully.

"Come, now. We may not be the only pebbles on the beach. Perhaps there
are others marooned out here in the fog, and they may be shouting just to
keep their courage up, or for some other purpose," replied Will stoutly.

"Well, the fog won't last much longer, anyway, and that's a comfort."

"How do you know that?" asked Frank, looking up.

"Because I just felt a puff of air. The wind's going to rise, and that
means an end to the fog," replied Bluff confidently.

"Well, I only hope we get this motor fixed before it rises too much," and
once more Frank gave his full attention to his work on the obstinate
engine.

Bluff and Will looked uneasily at each other.

"What does he mean?" asked the latter.

"I think he means that if the wind came up strong the sea would rise, and
we couldn't hold out here with our anchor," replied Bluff.

"In which case?"

"We'd either be blown out to sea, and be in danger of foundering, or else
driven toward the shore, perhaps to stick half a mile off and be
wrecked."

"I don't like either of those propositions any too well. Oh! I hope they
get the motor working! I'm so nervous I feel like shouting; and it seems
to me I can hear something moving all the time," went on Will.

"Something moving?" echoed his companion, looking at him as if he
wondered whether the other could be going out of his mind.

"Yes, over there to windward, which, I take it, is about due west just
now. Hark! Didn't you hear that?--and close at hand, too! What can it
be?"

"I don't know. Something is moving through the water! I can hear a gurgle
and a creaking noise. Do you think it could be a boat bearing down on us?
Oh! what if they ran us down in this fog? I say, Frank!" called Bluff,
also excited by this time.

"Well, what now?" demanded the other, again appearing in view.

"There's something doing ov