ay blanket that
wrapped them in.

"How far do you think we've gone from shore?" asked Will finally.

"I was just trying to figure out from the way that water runs past. It's
going faster than we are, you see. I should say we might have drifted
several miles since the motor broke down," replied Bluff soberly.

"I wonder how deep it is here?"

"Say! what do you talk that way for? Think we'll have to swim for it?"
exclaimed Bluff, in new alarm.

"Oh! I hope not. You see, I was thinking that if we could reach bottom it
might be worth while to anchor here. That would save us from getting any
further from the shore, at any rate," replied the other.

"Frank! Listen to what Will says!" called Bluff eagerly.

"What is that?" And Frank's head came into view.

"He says we might try and see how deep it is here; that perhaps the
anchor rope is long enough to reach bottom, and we'd stop drifting out to
sea."

"Good for Will! That's a bright idea, now. Suppose you two fellows try
and see if it will work? Jerry and I seem to be getting on, and there's
hope that we'll have things moving presently."

Accordingly, Bluff took up the anchor, which lay forward, and gently
dropped it into the smooth water. Then he allowed the rope to pass slowly
through his hands.

"Why, it's on bottom already! I don't believe it's ten feet deep away out
here, Frank!" he said hurriedly.

"Yes, I've always read that it was shallow along this coast. That makes
it more dangerous for vessels of any draught, for they're apt to go
aground. Fasten the cable to that cleat, Bluff. Make it secure, for we
don't want to lose the whole outfit overboard," remarked Frank.

"That feels a whole heap better," remarked Bluff, settling down again.

"Yes, for we're not moving out further all the time, anyway. Hang this
old fog! Why did it want to come up on our very first day, and before
we had become used to our strange surroundings?"

"Well, we've got to just take things as we meet 'em, as Frank does. You
notice that he seldom finds fault with the way things happen; just puts
his shoulder to the wheel and lifts it out of the rut," remarked Bluff.

"Yes, I know that; but every fellow doesn't happen to be built just the
same way. I wish I could take things as cool as he does; but I never even
snap off a picture without feeling more or less excitement quivering my
nerves."

"I don't suppose, now, you could get a decent picture of this?" Bluff
suggested.

"Wh