I say," retorted Jerry. "You had no right to take these
young ladies out and expose them to such peril." "The--ah--hurricane took
me by surprise," was the dude's lame excuse.

"I am very thankful to you, Jerry Upton," cried Dora Vincent, the oldest
and prettiest of the girls on board.

"And so am I."

"And I."

"Thank you," replied the boy, blushing. "But now is no time to talk. Which
of you will take the tiller, if I tell you exactly what to do?"

"I can--ah--take the tiller," interposed Conant, haughtily.

"You won't touch it!" cried the young oarsman, sternly.

"Why, boy, what do you mean? Do you--ah--"

"Sit down! If you dare to stir I'll pitch you overboard!"

Overcome with a new terror, the dude collapsed. He was hatless, the curl
was out of his mustache and hair, and altogether he looked very much
"washed out."

He sank down near the bow, and it was well that he did so, for just then
came an extra heavy blast of the gale.

"Hold hard, every one!" yelled Jerry. "Perhaps you ladies had better go
into the cabin," he added.

"I am to take the tiller, you know," said Dora Vincent. "Well, then, let
the others go. We can work along better with a clear deck."

So while Dora went aft, the others crawled into the cabin, or cuddy. Under
pretense of seeing after their comfort, Conant crawled after them.

"Now I will tell you just how to move the tiller," said Jerry to Dora
Vincent.

"All right, I am ready," responded the brave girl.

Now that she had Jerry with her, and knowing he was well acquainted with
boats, she felt that she was safe, no matter how bad the storm might prove
itself.

After giving the girl some instructions Jerry hoisted the main-sail a few
feet only. The sloop then swung around and moved in a beating way against
the storm.

Jerry wished to learn what had become of his companions. He was fearful
that they had been drowned.

It took quite some time to reach the vicinity where the accident had
occurred, and even then but little was to be seen through the driving
rain.

"Hullo, Harry! Blumpo!" he called out.

No answer came back and he repeated the cry a dozen times. Then he fancied
he heard a response directly ahead. The sloop was moved cautiously in the
direction, and presently they saw Blumpo clinging to part of the shattered
row-boat. "Sabe me! sabe me!" yelled the youth. "Don't let me drown,
Jerry."

"Catch the rope, Blumpo!" cried Jerry in return, and threw forward the end