row interested.

It is wonderful how quickly one recovers from an attack of this sort when
smoother water is reached. Will was commencing to lose a little of his
ghastly whiteness already, while Bluff had started to sigh, as though he
thought of supper.

After they had found a safe asylum behind the island Frank thought it
best to anchor. He did not care to go too near that sharpie, for the
recollection of the three rough spongers or fishermen on board deterred
him from wanting to renew their acquaintance.

Bluff immediately bailed out the little dinghy, and set himself to the
task of hunting along the shore for oysters. They saw him dipping his arm
down again and again, which would indicate that his quest was proving
successful. Even Jerry declared that he was now becoming fairly ravenous,
and could enjoy a solid meal.

"It's going to be a gloomy old night, fellows. Clouds gathering there in
the southwest. From what I've read about the signs, we may have one of
those northers boom down on us before morning," remarked Frank.

They were sitting around, enjoying the supper, as he made this remark.
Evening was close at hand. The sun had set in what seemed to be an angry
glow, with yellow predominating.

"Are we safe right here, if the wind chops around, and comes out of the
north?" asked cautious Will.

"Yes, for that arm of the land will shield us all right," declared Jerry.

So the night set in. Darkness gathered unusually early, it seemed to the
chums. They had made all arrangements looking to the raising of the
complete automobile cover of the boat in case of a downpour.

"I guess there's nothing to fear from the elements," remarked Frank
finally.

"Can there be from any other source?" demanded Will, quick to take the
alarm from the tone of Frank's voice.

"I bet Frank's thinking of those three blooming pirates who wanted to
smash us out on the big water," declared Bluff quickly.

"I confess they were in my mind; but, so far, they've paid no attention
to us, and we're a quarter of a mile away from that sharpie. Don't
bother your head about them, Will. Of course, we'll keep a watch, as
usual, though."

"You just make up your mind we will, now. I didn't like the looks of the
crowd a little bit. Some of these wild waterdogs along the gulf coast,
they told me, wouldn't object to a little piratical business on the sly
when--"

Jerry stopped short. Over the water, from the direction of the mysterious
anchor