the negro's feet he directed him to steer a little
south of east. This was the direction in which John had seen his phantom
island.

"I have a plan," said Fred. "I say we all row steadily for an hour
without looking around. At the end of that time we'll all stand up and I
feel sure we'll see land not far away."

"How are you going to tell when the hour is up?" inquired John. "There
isn't a watch in the whole crowd that will run. I'm afraid it's too warm
for even the sun to be on time."

"Then we'll have to guess at it. Is everybody agreeable?"

"Suppose a boat appears ahead of us," suggested George. "We might never
see it."

"Sam is facing that way," said Fred. "He will see it and can tell us.
Unless he sees a boat, though, he is not to say a word."

"That's a go," said Grant. "Is everybody ready?"

The word was given and the life-boat shot forward on its course. The
game being played served to cheer up the members of the little party and
as a matter of fact no one had remained greatly worried about their
condition for any length of time. Youth is always hopeful and every one
on board had always had the feeling deep in his heart that they would be
rescued before long. Lack of food and water had not assailed them as
yet.

"The hour must be nearly up," remarked George at last.

"Huh," snorted Fred. "I don't believe we've been going over twenty
minutes."

"Certainly not an hour," agreed Grant. "Stick to it a while longer,
Pop."

"All right," sighed George, "but I know we've been working at least an
hour."

"You never worked an hour in your life," said John. "How do you know how
long it is?"

"I warn you not to talk like that," said George, pretending to be angry.
"I am sitting right behind you, you know, and it would be no trouble at
all for me to give you a good, swift punch in the middle of the spine."

"Oh, Pop," exclaimed Fred. "How bloodthirsty you're getting."

"I'm thirsty for a drink of water, that's sure," exclaimed George.

"You'll have to wait until the hour is up," said Grant.

"I say it's up now."

"The rest of us say not, though," reminded Grant. "Besides that, we're
three to your one, so we can make you do pretty much as we please."

"Is that so?" exclaimed George haughtily. "Well, if I want to turn my
head around I don't know who could stop me."

"Don't try it," warned Fred, who pulled the bow oar. "You'll be sorry."

"How about Fred up there?" demanded John.

"We've all got our