evere, sir. I have sailed the seas longer than you have, sir, and
I recognize the signs."

"And you don't think this craft can weather the storm?"

"I am afraid not, sir. Of course there is always a possibility, and by
running with the storm we have, of course, a fighting chance; but that's
all we have, sir, a fighting chance."

"It is as much as we have had many times before," replied Frank.

"Very well, then," to Edwards, "you may take the wheel. Your advice is
to run before it?"

"Yes, sir, at full speed."

"Your advice shall be taken. We'll keep the engine going and the
steering is up to you."

"Very good, sir."

Edwards took the wheel and Frank made his way forward.

"Hello," said Jack. "Thought you were going to do the steering."

"I was," replied Frank, "but Edwards seemed to think he could do better
and I guess he is right. He says we are in for a bad gale."

"He's right," replied Jack. "I've seen the signs before. You may
remember I lived on the ocean. Yes, we're in for it, I'm afraid. All we
can do is run."

"That's what Edwards said."

"It'll be daylight in less than half an hour," Jack continued. "That
will help some. If it will hold off that long, I'll feel better."

And the gale did hold off.

A faint gray streaked the east, making more plain the seriousness of
their situation. The clouds hung heavy and low and it took no mariner to
tell that a storm was brewing.

Gradually the wind increased and the little motorboat tore along before
it. Now the swell of the sea became heavier. Waves rolled higher and
higher and the little craft first wallowed in the trough of the sea and
then climbed the gigantic waves.

"No wonder people get seasick," Frank muttered to himself.

The wind increased in violence until it blew a hurricane, but still the
little motorboat did not falter; it bore on as bravely as before,
climbing wave after wave swiftly and unerringly. Edwards, at the wheel,
was giving a splendid example of seamanship.

A mountainous wave, greater than the rest, descended upon the motorboat
and broke over it, drenching all on board to the skin. The wind whistled
overhead and the air grew icy cold. Frank shivered, as he held fast.

"Br-r-r," he said. "Right now it would feel awfully nice to be ashore. I
wonder what of Lord Hastings and _The Hawk_?"

At the same moment, Lord Hastings was wondering what of them.

For hours and hours, it seemed to the two lads, the little craft battled