, "if any of those men happened along
here and saw that bridge spanning the creek, they'd know we'd come this
way. Now that we've thrown it into the water, it will float off and
never give us away, anyhow."

They began to make more satisfactory progress after getting on the
western side of the creek. All of them felt much encouraged though the
morning remained dull and heavy, and there was always a chance that it
might begin to rain.

Many times did they turn curious glances toward the mist-covered bay, as
though speculating on what mysteries that fog might conceal.

As a rule it was seldom Teddy who made any discovery; but on this
occasion the credit belonged to him. He suddenly drew the attention of
the rest to something strange that had attracted his attention.

"I may be off my base, fellows," was the way he put it, "but I'm sure I
heard people talking right then. And it came from out there, too, sure
it did," with which he pointed straight toward the bay.

Jimmy might have laughed at such a suggestion, but before he could think
to do anything like this, all of them plainly heard a human voice well
up from the fog.

CHAPTER XVII.

ON BOARD THE WRECK.

Everybody could hear the sounds now. The conditions must have been
favorable for carrying a human voice far over the water, because fog is
a good conductor of sound.

Men were talking apparently, though the rumble of their voices alone
came over the surface of the water, and no actual words could be
distinguished.

"What's that other noise?" asked Teddy, as though puzzled.

"Must be oars working in the rowlocks," suggested Jack.

"Of course," declared the explorer, "how foolish of me to ask such a
silly question. But seems I don't get the give-away sounds as clear as I
did a minute or so ago."

"Good reason then," Frank told him; "because the boat they're rowing is
heading out on to the bay."

"Then you think there must be some sort of vessel there, do you, Frank?"
asked Teddy, eagerly, as he tried in vain to penetrate the blanket of
mist.

"I reckon there might be," replied Frank, "though, of course, we can't
see anything of the same right now. That rowboat wouldn't be setting out
into the big sheet of water, unless heading for a vessel."

"Could it have anything to do with that wonderful fleet that is always
on the move, coming and going, according to the weather? How about that,
Ned?" demanded Teddy.

Ned shook his head, to indicate th