ht after all, Jimmy," he muttered; but as
there was no answer, he took it for granted that his mate had passed
into slumberland by the short route; indeed, Jimmy had a faculty for
getting to sleep almost as soon as his head touched his pillow, which
in this case was an inflated rubber one.

And as the night wore on, the tossing of the boats became less and
less, until along about three in the morning Jack, chancing to awaken,
found that the little _Tramp_ lay perfectly quiet on the bosom of the
big sound.

He could see out, and looking toward the southeast beheld the glow of
that great beacon marking the position of the most stormy cape along
the whole Atlantic coast--Hatteras.

In the morning they were not long in getting under way, as soon as
breakfast had been hurried through with, and Nick had to get aboard his
own boat again, for his services were needed by his skipper.

Across the sound they sped at a clipping rate, heading direct for the
sandy spit where the lighthouse stands. The roar of the ocean beating
against that barrier that has kept it out for ages came strongly to
their ears, as the breeze changed with the turn of the tide.

Landing among the sand dunes near the light, they paid a visit to the
keeper, and met with a cordial reception. As a rule strangers are not
allowed to trespass upon Government property; but such a fine lot of
lads seemed to appeal to the heart of the keeper, who took them up to
the top of the tower, in order to let them have a view of what lay
before them to the south.

They listened to his stories of famous wrecks that had strewn the
neighboring beaches with dismembered portions of gallant ships and
steamers for fifty years; and looking out on the ocean to where the
treacherous reefs lay, waiting for fresh victims, Jack could easily
picture the tragic scenes that were being described, even though at
that time the sun chanced to be shining brightly, and the sea fairly
smooth.

Then again a start was made, for some difficult cruising lay ahead
before they could hope to reach Beaufort, where a little rest would be
taken, in order to carry out the promise they had made the young
aviator, Malcolm Spence.

They had heard ugly stories about Hatteras Inlet. It was said to have
treacherous currents, and to abound in fierce man-eating sharks. Hence
George became more or less concerned as they bore down upon it on this
same morning.

But like a good many other things in this wo