in a place of safety," added John.

"Yes, she will: I have often told her that when a gale came on, I should
always get into a safe place, and keep quiet till it was prudent to run
home."

"It is lucky we are in the Fawn instead of the Blowout."

"We should not have gone down so far in the old boat. I felt so safe in
this craft that I did not mind much about the weather."

"We have been safe enough all the time; and if you would only have put
on the jib and reefed mainsail, we should have been at home by this
time."

"I did not think it was prudent to do so. I may have been mistaken; if I
was, I have erred on the safe side."

"I suppose we must sleep on board," said John.

"If you don't like the idea, you can go on shore, and sleep at the farm
house."

"But I do like the idea; we have good beds, and I had just as lief sleep
here as in my own bed at home. In fact, I am rather glad we are caught."

"I thought so," said Paul, laughing; "but there it one thing we are not
prepared for."

"What is that?"

"Supper."

"I wish we had a frying pan and a furnace; we could have some fried
perch for supper."

"As we have not those things, we must make the best of what we have. Our
luncheon is all gone; but there are two or three crackers in the locker,
which I threw in from the old boat."

"We shan't starve before morning," replied John, whose philosophy was
proof against an empty stomach.

"I know that; but it would be a good deal better to have some supper, if
we could get it."

"Can't we go on shore?"

"No, we can't land on this shallow beach. It wouldn't be safe to get
aground here."

Both boys were very hungry, for it was now nearly night and they had
taken their lunch in the middle of the day. The crackers were eaten, and
washed down with a drink of cold water from the jug; but it was a dry
and unsatisfactory supper and Paul resolved in future to keep the Fawn
provisioned for such an emergency as the present.

The wind still blew with undiminished violence, and the black clouds
indicated rain. By and by the darkness came on, and there was no longer
any prospect of getting home before the next day. Just before dark, a
man hailed them from the shore, and offered them a bed at the farm
house; but Paul thanked him and declined the offer, at the same time
hinting that they had nothing on board to eat.

"Come ashore, then, and get some supper," replied the man.

"We can't get ashore; we draw too much wat