d, and as they did so he held her trembling hands tightly in
his own. In that minute of extreme peril they realized how very much
they were to one another.

At last, after what seemed to be hours, but, was in reality less than
five minutes, Anderson Rover appeared.

"There is no immediate danger," said he. "We must have struck some
sort of wreckage, or lumber float. There is a small hole in the bow,
just above the water line, and several of the seams have been opened.
Captain Barforth is having the hole closed up and has started up the
donkey pump to keep the water low in the hold. He says he thinks we
can make one of the nearby ports without great trouble."

This news removed the tension under which all were suffering, and a
little later the ladies and the girls retired to the cabin, and Aleck
stole back to his sleeping quarters. The boys went forward, to inspect
the damage done, but in the darkness could see little.

"It was an accident such as might happen to any vessel," said the
captain, later. "The lookouts were evidently not to blame. There are
many derelicts and bits of lumber rafts scattered throughout these
waters and consequently traveling at night or in a fog is always more
or less dangerous.

"We shall have to put up somewhere for repairs, not so?" questioned
Anderson Rover.

"It would be best, Mr. Rover. Of course we might be able to patch
things ourselves, but, unless you are in a great hurry, I advise going
into port and having it done. It will have to be done sooner or later
anyway."

"Where do you advise putting in?"

Captain Barforth thought for a moment.

"I think we had better run over to Nassau, which is less than sixty
miles from here. Nassau, as perhaps you know, is the capital city of
the Bahamas, and has quite some shipping and we'll stand a good chance
there of getting the right ship's--carpenters to do the work."

After some talk, it was decided to steer for Nassau, and the course of
the _Rainbow_ was changed accordingly. They now ran with even greater
caution than before, and a strong searchlight was turned on at the
bow, the surplus power from the engine being used for that purpose.

As my young readers may know, Nassau is located on New Providence
Island, about two hundred miles east of the lower coast of Florida. It
is under British rule and contains about fifteen thousand inhabitants.
It is more or less of a health resort and is visited by many tourists,
consequently there