"That Jack Curtiss
lad and his two chums are out there quite often."

"Bill Bender and Sam Redding, I suppose you mean," said Tubby.

"Those their names?" asked the captain. "Well, I don't know any good
uv any uv 'em. Old Skipper here chased 'em away from my melon patch
the other day. I reckon they thought Old Scratch was after them, the
way they run; but they got away with some melons, just the same."

The old man laughed aloud at the recollection of the marauders'
precipitous flight.

That Jack Curtiss and his two cronies had made a rendezvous of the
island was news to the boys, and not agreeable news, either. They had
been planning a patrol camp there later on in the summer, and the bully
and his two chums were not regarded by them as desirable neighbors.
However, they said nothing, as they could not claim sole right to use
the island, which was property that had been so long in litigation that
It had come to be known as "No Man's Land" as well as by its proper
name. The captain was only a squatter there, but no one cared to
disturb him, and he had led the existence of a semi-hermit there for
many years.

The Flying Fish rapidly covered the calm waters of the inlet and was
soon dancing over the swells outside.

"I'm going to let her out a bit," said Rob suddenly; "look out for
spray."

"Spray don't bother a brine-pickled old salt like me," laughed the
captain. "Let her go."

The Flying Fish seemed fairly to leap forward as Merritt gave her the
full power of her engine. As Rob had said, it did indeed behoove her
occupants to look out for spray. The sparkling spume came flying back
in sheets as she cut through the waves, but the boys didn't mind that
any more than did their weather-beaten companion. As for Skipper, he
barked aloud in sheer joy as the Flying Fish slid along as if she were
trying to live up to her name to her utmost ability.

"This is a good little sea boat," remarked the captain, as they plunged
onward. "She's as seaworthy as she is speedy, I guess."

"She'll stand a lot of knocking about, and that's a fact," agreed Rob.

"Well," remarked the old man, gazing about him, "it's a good thing that
she is, fer, if I'm not mistaken--and I'm not often off as regards the
weather--we are goin' ter have quite a little blow before yer boys get
back home."

"A storm?" asked Tubby, somewhat alarmed.

"Oh, no; not what yer might call a storm," laughed the captain; "but
just what we used to t