now unmistakable, showed that the captain was
right, and that she was actually, as he said, hard and fast. This fact
had to be recognized, but Arthur would not be satisfied until he had
actually seen the anchor, and then he knew that the vessel was really
aground.

"Do you mean to say," he cried at last, "that there is nothing to be
done?"

"I don't see," said Captain Corbet, "what thar is to be done till the
schewner muves."

"When will that be?"

"Not till to-morrow mornin."

"How early?"

"Not before eight o'clock."

"Eight o'clock!" cried Arthur, in horror.

"Yes, eight o'clock. You see we had to come in pooty nigh to the
shore, an it'll be eight o'clock before we're floated."

"And what'll become of poor Tom?" groaned Arthur.

"Wal," said the captain, "don't look on the wust. He may get ashore."

"He has no oar. The oar was thrown aboard of the schooner."

"Still he may be carried ashore."

"Is there any chance?"

"Wal, not much, to tell the truth. Thar's no use of buo-oyin of
ourselves up with false hopes; not a mite. Thar's a better chance of
his bein picked up. That thar's likely now, an not unnatooral. Let's
all don't give up. If thar's no fog outside, I'd say his chances air
good."

"But it may be foggy."

"Then, in that case, he'll have to drift a while--sure."

"Then there's no hope."

"Hope? Who's a sayin thar's no hope? Why, look here; he's got
provisions on board, an needn't starve; so if he does float for a day
or two, whar's the harm? He's sure to be picked up eventooally."

At this moment their conversation was interrupted by a loud call from
the promontory. It was the voice of Bruce.

While these events had been taking place on board the schooner, Bruce
and Bart had been ashore. At first they had waited patiently for the
return of the boat, but finally they wondered at her delay. They had
called, but the schooner was too far off to hear them. Then they waited
for what seemed to them an unreasonably long time, wondering what kept
the boat, until at length Bruce determined to try and get nearer. Burt
was to stay behind in case the boat should come ashore in his absence.
With this in view he had walked down the promontory until he had
reached the extreme point, and there he found himself within easy hail
of the Antelope.

"Schooner ahoy!" he cried.

"A-ho-o-o-o-y!" cried Captain Corbet.

"Why don't you come and take us off?" he cried.

After this there was