when one
has to try it in a storm. My heart was in my mouth for a few minutes
until we got safely through."

"You didn't show it," said Fred. "You went at it as coolly as any old
salt who has done nothing else all his life but buck the seas."

"Well, anyway, we got through all right, and that's all that counts,"
returned Lester. "But after this I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for
signs of trouble before the trouble comes."

"It was our fault for talking too much," remarked Teddy. "We were so
stirred up by that letter from Mel that we couldn't think of anything
else."

By this time Lester had the boat well out on the open sea, and every one
kept a sharp lookout for any trace of Ross' boat. In his heart no one of
them really expected to see it again, but they all kept up an appearance
of confidence, the Rally Hall boys doing so in order not to discourage
their new-found friend.

He, on his part, was almost silent. This was due to some extent, no
doubt, to the reaction from his severe ordeal of the day before, but it
may have been caused somewhat by the feeling that he had gone too far in
taking them fully into his confidence. His secret was no longer his, and
while he was strongly drawn toward these wholesome young fellows who
were of his own age, he could not help feeling a little uneasy. He felt
sure that they would act toward him in perfect good faith, but some
careless or indiscreet word dropped by any one of them might betray the
secret to others who would not be as scrupulous.

"I wish we had brought a pair of glasses along," remarked Lester.
"There's an extra pair at the lighthouse, and we might have had it as
well as not."

"Never mind," said Teddy, "we've got Bill's eyes to fall back on, and if
they can see as far out over the water as they used to over the prairie,
they'll be almost as good as glasses."

Over an hour elapsed without any trace of the derelict, and Lester began
to feel uneasy in regard to his long absence from home.

"I hate to cut this short," he said reluctantly, "but I know just how
father is feeling after yesterday's storm, and I feel it's up to me to
let him know we're safe. As soon as we've done that, we can put right
out again and spend the whole day looking for the boat."

"You're just right," answered Ross heartily. "You fellows have done
enough for me already and you ought to make a bee-line for home. The
chances are all against our finding the motor boat anyway. It may hav