re sleeping so comfortably on the sand; but Tom soon convinced them
that he had acted from the best of motives, and they readily forgave
him.

[Illustration: GETTING OUT OF THE TRAP.-DRAWN BY A. B. FROST.]

Of course breakfast was the first business of the day, and after that
was finished the boat had to be entirely unloaded before she could be
lifted over the piles into the channel. For the first time since they
had started on the cruise the breeze was ahead, but it was so light that
it was of very little consequence. The sky was cloudy, and the day
promised to be a cool one; so the boys resolved to take to their oars,
and try, if possible, to reach Albany before night. When the boat was
loaded, Tom and Jim each took a long oar, and Harry took his usual seat
in the stern-sheets. They all felt fresh, in spite of their night's
adventure, and started gayly on their intended long day's row.

By this time they had found out that although round tin boxes were very
well to keep things dry, they are by no means handy to carry in a boat.
Their shape made it impossible to stow them compactly. Joe, who sat at
the bow, always had to pick his way over these tin boxes in going to or
coming from his station; and he was constantly catching his foot in the
spaces left between the boxes, and falling down on them. This smashed in
the covers, and tried Joe's temper sorely. Once he sat down so violently
on the box which held the sugar, that he went completely through the
cover, and was fastened in the box as securely as a cork in a bottle. He
was only released after a great deal of work, and just in time to enable
the boys to have sugar in their coffee at night. Harry resolved that he
would never cruise again with round boxes, but would have small rubber
bags made, in which to put everything that required to be kept dry.

The boys took turns at the oars every hour, and rowed steadily until
noon. They gave themselves an hour for lunch and resting, and then
resumed their work. Late in the afternoon they came in sight of Albany,
and went ashore, so as to get their dinner before reaching the city.
After dinner they again pulled away at the oars, and at about nine
o'clock they stopped at a lumber-yard on the outskirts of Albany, and,
creeping in among the lumber, wrapped their blankets around them, and
dropped asleep, completely worn out, but proud of their long day's row.

Before sunrise the next morning, Tom was awakened by a stick which w