erous openings,
where the sweep of the sea had a full chance to strike them.

Then came Portsmouth, where Jimmy was dispatched for the mail, as well
as some necessary food supplies. They all had such good appetites,
save perhaps Josh, for whose lack Nick more than made up, that it was
simply amazing how things just seemed to melt away. But then six boys
can always be depended upon to devour their own weight in "grub" during
a short cruise upon the water. The salty air seemed to make them
hungry all the time, so that it became necessary to piece between
regular meals.

Jack timed their departure from Portsmouth so as to break into Cove
Sound, and reach Cedar Island, before night came on. Somehow he had
set his mind in making a camp here. Possibly he had read of some
former lone boatman doing the same, for he had devoured several books
containing descriptions of this inland passage.

As nothing happened to disturb his plans, they drew up for the night at
Cedar Island, an hour and more before the sun would set.

This gave them plenty of chances to do a number of things that happened
to appeal to them individually. George went ashore to stretch his
cramped legs, whither Nick had of course preceded him, leaving the
_Wireless_ at anchor just beyond the other two boats.

And George took his gun with him, thinking there might be a chance to
pick up some shore birds, in the way of snipe or curlew.

Jack was bent on trying to get a mess of fish for supper, and noting
what seemed to be a promising place close by, he set to work. They saw
him pull in several finny captives; and Nick would rub his stomach in
mute delight every time the patient angler made a strike, as he viewed
the possibilities of a prospective feast.

Josh was busy making a fireplace out of some stones he picked up. It
always did him great good to have things fixed to suit his ideas of
what a cooking fire ought to be when in camp. It was fast becoming a
hobby with Josh; and yet, strange to say, with all his ability in the
line of cookery, he was often unable to partake of his own savory
messes on account of his disposition toward indigestion.

Herb seemed to be whittling something out of a piece of nice wood he
had found; while Jimmy, always good-natured, and willing to be the
"handy boy" of the bunch, gathered wood for the cook.

They heard George shoot a number of times, and new hope began to take
hold of Nick, who, moving closer to Josh, comm