mall boat and that the
storm may capsize it. If it were a canoe or a rowboat, he'd probably try
to upset it himself."

"He couldn't have been far off when Fred was in the water," shivered
Bill. "He may have been making for him at the very minute we hauled him
out."

"We got both out just in the nick of time, I guess," assented Teddy
soberly, and his heart was full of thankfulness as he gazed at his elder
brother.

The latter just at present had his hands full. The storm had increased
in fury and was now blowing half a gale. The sail threatened to split
into ribbons, and the gunwale was constantly under water as the
_Ariel_ plunged along. Lester's muscles were strained to the utmost
to hold the rudder against the heavy waves that seemed bound to disable
it.

His face was set and worried, as he glanced alternately at sea and sky.
He seemed to be debating a question that bothered him. At last he
reached a decision.

"It's no use," he said as he jammed over the tiller and changed the
course of the _Ariel_. "We'll never make Bartanet Shoals with the
wind as it is now. We'd have to do too much tacking and beating up into
the wind."

"What will you do then?" inquired Fred anxiously.

"We'll make for a cove I know of, where we can wait till the storm is
over," answered Lester. "And we'll have to do some tall hustling to get
there before night comes on. Here goes for a run before the wind."

CHAPTER III

A WELCOME REFUGE

The change of course had not been effected without shipping a
considerable amount of water as the boat hung for a moment in the wind.
Bill and Teddy bailed desperately, and an instant later the _Ariel_
was heading in a new direction. The wind now, instead of striking her
sail at an angle, was following directly over the stern, and the little
craft fairly flew. The power of the wind made her careen at a dangerous
angle, and Bill and Teddy had to climb up on the further side to keep
her from capsizing.

It was perilous sailing, but the bite of the salt spray on their cheeks
and the swift pace at which they were moving filled the boys with wild
exhilaration. They might have been four young Vikings out on a voyage of
discovery, as they faced and dared the storm.

"See how she foots it through the water!" exclaimed Lester. "Isn't she a
beauty?"

"You bet she is!" responded Teddy with enthusiasm. "I don't wonder that
sailors get so fond of their boats that they'd rather go down with them
t