on, all right. The gulf is close at hand. Indeed, I'm adding a
little speed just now, in the hope that we may be able to open it up
before night," remarked Frank.

"How about that bend, just below? Somehow, it strikes me that once we
round that something may be doing. It's just a sneaking notion, but you
wait," ventured Jerry.

Ten minutes later they swept around the bend in question, and a cry burst
from every lip, for there, in the light of the declining sun, lay the
great Mexican Gulf, stretching as far in the distance as the eye could
see.

The river cruise was ended, and another kind of adventure lay before
them.

CHAPTER XI

ALL THE COMFORTS OF SALT WATER

"Why are you slowing up, Frank?"

"Yes, just when we ought to make a grand burst of speed, too," said
Jerry.

"You forget that the sun is low, and evening close at hand," replied
Frank,

"Tell me about that, and what it has to do with us. I'm a greeny when it
comes to running a motor-boat."

"Oh, the boat has little to do with it; but please remember that the Gulf
of Mexico is a larger affair than Camalot Lake. In fact, it means the
ocean, with all that implies. Suppose we were caught off-shore the very
first night with no place to go?"

"That would be tough, for a fact. I think I see what you mean, Frank.
We'll anchor in the mouth of the river to-night--is that it?" continued
Jerry.

"Just what I wanted to say. Then in the morning, after we have studied
our gulf chart, we can lay out our day's work, if the wind is favorable."

"Wind! Why, we can go whether it blows or not!" ejaculated Will, who had
already taken a snapshot of the picture presented by the open water
beyond the island in the mouth of the river.

"Particularly when not. If anything of a south wind is on, the waves are
apt to stagger such a little boat as this."

Frank had kept his eyes about him while he talked. He now brought the
_Jessamine_ alongside the bank at the most favorable spot he could see.

Jerry was ashore immediately.

"Make her additionally secure to-night," said Frank.

"Why, what d'ye expect--a hurricane?" And Will looked anxiously at the
clear sky.

"Oh, I guess not; but you see we are now in the region of tides, and a
change might swing us around, perhaps break the boat away from shore.
We'd feel nice if we woke up in the morning to find ourselves out of
sight of land," laughed Frank.

Of course he was joking, but Will looked serious for some