for one.

"A nip will ward off the cold better than a coat," he said.

They all three indulged in this preventive.

Beyond Dreamer's Rock the wind fulfilled Tom's prophecy; it was not a
great wind, but it was a steady one, and, perhaps, because the whisky had
warmed Tom's blood too hastily and hotly, he grew reckless.

"What do you say, fellows, to eating our lunch and then trying sail and
engine together? We could beat the record and surprise folks by our time
in coming and going. The wind's safe; not a puff! What do you say?"

Jerry-Jo was something of a coward, but by the time he had eaten his
lunch and washed it down with more whisky than he had meant to take, he
was ready to handle the sail himself and proceeded to do so.

Little Bear Island was the last one before the entrance to Big Bay, and
when the launch passed that, either the wind had changed, or Tom, at the
engine and Jerry-Jo at the sail, had lost nerve and head, for the boat
became unmanageable. Sandy, keeping to the exact middle of the boat,
called to Jerry-Jo to lower the sail, but Jerry-Jo did not hear, or
failed to clearly comprehend. The little craft shot ahead like an arrow,
but Tom knew that when they went about there would be trouble. They were
fully a mile from either rock-bound shore. Wyland Island was a good two
miles before them, and home seven miles to the rear.

A biggish sea was rolling and the sky was clouding threateningly. The
liquor had done its worst for the boys: it had unnerved them, while at
the same time it had given them a mad courage.

"Keep straight ahead," shouted Tom, "until we get near shore, and then
pull in that infernal sail!"

What happened just then Jerry-Jo could never tell, and he alone remained
at the day's end for the telling!

They were in the water, all three of them! For a moment Jerry-Jo,
thoroughly sobered and keener witted than he had ever been before in his
life, believed he was the only one of the party ever again to appear in
that angry sea. Then he saw the over-turned boat, heard the last sobbing
pants of the engine as it filled with water; then Tom's black head and
agonized face appeared; then Sandy's red head. They all made for the boat
and the wide sail lying flat in the water!

They reached the launch, chilled and desperate, climbed upon it, and
gazed helplessly at each other. Through chattering teeth they tried to
speak, but only a moan escaped Tom's blue lips. The wind was colder; the
sun