ed. "I can see it in
Mr. Ronald's face."

"Which only goes to show that looks are really deceiving," returned
the owner of the yacht, good-naturedly.

"What!" cried Dorothy, while Molly gave vent to a disappointed, "Oh!"

"Do you mean that the engineer hasn't yet got to the seat of the
trouble?" queried Dr. Sterling.

"I regret to say that his efforts are not meeting with the success we
had hoped for, and as we are slowly drifting in toward the beach,
with only a few feet of water under our keel, we shall be forced to
drop anchor, pending further developments in the engine-room."

"That means that the trouble is serious," groaned Aunt Betty.

"Not necessarily," said Judge Breckenridge, in an encouraging tone,
"but if we run aground we will be 'suah 'nuff' in trouble, as old
Ephraim would say."

"The trouble is merely temporary, I assure you," Mr. Ronald went on.
"If you will excuse me again, I'll order the anchor dropped. Then we
can at least make our minds easy as to where we will stay until the
trouble is located."

The others nodded their assent and he hurried forward. A moment
later, with a rattling of chains, the anchor plunged into the waters
of the bay.

Mr. Ronald then rejoined his guests, and in spite of the anxiety that
was surging in Dorothy's breast, she entered into the spirit of the
occasion with the others. Story and jest rang out over the water as
the sun gradually approached the horizon.

It was after six when Sharley came on deck to say that the trouble
was as elusive as ever.

"We've been over every inch of her," he said, "and can't find a thing
the matter. Yet, she won't budge an inch. The gasoline supply is O.
K., and the batteries are in good shape. There's no trouble at all
about exploding the spark, but I can't get the engine to turn a
wheel, sir."

Mr. Ronald cast an uneasy glance toward the eastern sky, where a
heavy bank of clouds was appearing above the sky-line. The rapidity
with which they were approaching seemed to indicate that a storm was
brewing. He said nothing of this to his guests, though, but smilingly
remarked that he would go below again to go over the matter another
time with Sharley. Then owner and engineer disappeared below decks
together.

Anxiously those on deck awaited some report from the engine-room; but
the minutes slipped by and none came.

Finally, Dorothy noticed the approaching storm, and gave vent to a
startled exclamation, which, caused Aunt Bett