the storm, at each moment seeming in imminent danger of capsizing; but
always the master hand of Edwards at the wheel righted the little craft
and it dashed away in the gale.

"Great Scott!" cried Frank, raising his voice to a shout to make himself
heard above the terrible roaring of the wind, "we can't stand this much
longer."

"You are right," declared Jack. "We are liable to be swamped at any
moment."

As each wave descended upon them, breaking over the little boat, Frank
was confident that the end had come. It did not seem possible that the
craft could withstand another. But each time the little boat seemed to
brace itself for the shock and a moment later would ride high to safety.

Edwards, at the wheel, had lashed himself fast, that he might not be
swept overboard; and once, soon after the storm had descended, he was
startled.

Something soft touched his feet; and taking his eyes from ahead long
enough to look down, he saw that the object was the body of Williams,
which the water had washed over the deck to him.

His hands fast, as they were, he could not stoop down to touch the body
as he gazed at it mournfully; then another wave descended, and when it
had gone, Williams' body was no longer in sight.

"Good-bye, old friend!" Edwards shouted after it. "Good-bye! I may be
with you soon. If I could have reached down I would have shaken hands
with you once more before you went away."

Another gigantic wave swooped down and he gave his attention to keeping
the boat's head right.

At last, when it seemed that the storm would never end, it broke
suddenly. As if by magic there was a calm, and bright sunlight streamed
down from above. The gale was over. The motorboat and its crew of three
were safe.

Frank and Jack clasped hands.

"Safe once more," said the latter quietly.

Suddenly the little craft pitched violently. Frank turned a quick gaze
aft to the wheel where he made out the reason for this sudden lurch.

Completely exhausted by his recent experience, Edwards had lapsed into
unconsciousness once the strain was over. No hand grasped the wheel and
the motorboat pitched this way and that in the trough of the sea.

Frank made his way aft as rapidly as possible and took the wheel. Jack
shut down the engine and followed him. He poured water over Edwards'
face and directly the latter sat up.

"Funny I had to keel over like that," he said grinning feebly. "Don't
know what's the matter with me. Must be ge