and build another wall with it. It made a fine defence, in fact, it was
simply out of sight," concluded the fun-loving Rover.

"Say, you----" began Bahama Bill. "You--er--you--say, I can't say
another word, I can't! The idee o' building a wall o' fog! Why,
say----"

What the old tar wanted to say, or wanted them to say, will never be
known, for at that instant came a loud cry from the bow. Almost
immediately came a crash, and the _Rainbow_ quivered and backed.
Then came another crash, and the old sailor and the boys were hurled
flat on the deck.

CHAPTER XVII

A MISHAP IN THE FOG

"We have struck another vessel!"

"We are sinking!"

"How far are we from land?"

These and other cries rang out through the heavy fog, as the two
crashes came, followed, a few seconds later, by a third.

Captain Barforth had left the steam yacht in charge of the first mate
and was on the companionway going below. With two bounds he was on deck
and running toward the bow at top speed.

"What was it? Have we a hole in the bow?" he questioned, of the
frightened lookouts, who had been sent spinning across the slippery
deck.

"Couldn't make out, captain--it was something black," said one lookout.
"Black and square-like."

"I think it was a bit of old wreckage," said the other. "Anyway, it
wasn't another vessel, and it was too dark for a lumber raft."

"Is it out of sight?"

It was, and though all strained their eyes they could not make out what
had been struck, nor did they ever find out.

From the deck the captain made his way below, followed by Mr. Rover,
who was anxious to learn the extent of the injuries. In the meantime
the ladies and girls had joined the boys on the deck, and the latter
began to get out the life preservers.

The most excited man on board was Asa Carey, and without waiting for
orders from the captain, he ordered two of the small boats gotten ready
to swing overboard. Then he ran down to his stateroom, to get some of
his possessions.

"Is we gwine to de bottom?" questioned Aleck, as he appeared, clad in a
pair of slippers and a blanket.

"I don't know," answered Fred. "I hope not."

The boys had all they could do to keep the girls quiet, and Grace was
on the point of becoming hysterical, which was not to be wondered at,
considering the tremendous excitement.

"We cannot be so very far from one of the islands," said Dick. "And if
the worst comes to the worst we ought to be able to make shore