t close on the wind, and ordered all
sheets trimmed flat. This much he had learned on board the _Millgirl_.
By thus doing, he could lay a course a little north of east, which he
hoped would take them to the vicinity of Newport.

The others discussed their situation, the disappearance of Mr. Bangwell,
and the probable ending of this most remarkable cruise with unwearied
tongues. They still believed themselves to be good enough sailors to
handle the yacht, and take her anywhere they chose. At the same time
they devoutly hoped that fair weather would hold until they reached some
safe harbor, and earnestly wished for the sight of one.

In the mean time Will Rogers was puzzled to account for his inability to
keep the yacht on her course. She persistently fell off from it, and
seemed to be making leeway almost as fast as she did headway, although a
good breeze was blowing. "There must be a tremendous current," he said
to himself, "and I guess I'd better head the other way."

So, in imitation of Captain Crotty's well-remembered order, he sung out,
"Ready about!" and then put the helm hard down. He did not, however,
remember to slack his head-sail sheets, and none of the others
remembered it for him. The yacht shot up into the wind all right; but
after hanging there for a minute with slatting sails, she gracefully
tilled away again on her former tack. She had missed stays. Again and
again Will tried to get her about, but failed in every instance.

Now, for the first time, the Rangers began to grow alarmed, and to
realize that something was lacking in their knowledge of seamanship.
Their craft would sail all right where she chose to go, but not where
they wanted her to.

"I never heard of a boat acting this way!" cried Will Rogers, finally,
and in utter despair.

"Let me try," said Mif Bowers; and, glad to share his responsibility,
Will released the wheel.

Mifflin met with no better success than Will, and not only that, but
became so badly rattled by a sudden puff that heeled the yacht over
until her lee rail was under water, that he let go of the wheel in
terror, yelling to Will to take it before they were capsized.

Even their hoped-for assistance from other craft failed them; for,
though several, all evidently yachts, approached at different times
during the day, they all sheered off when near enough to distinguish the
signals fluttering from the _Whisper_'s mast-heads.

So the unhappy Sea Rangers, growing more and