genuinely miserable now, "if there
was any one on board who knew enough to take my place."

"Any one of us can do it," spoke up George glibly.

Fred shook his head in token of his unbelief as he said slowly, "We
would go to the bottom."

"We may go there anyway," said John, "if this wind keeps rising. I want
you to notice how much higher the waves are and how many more white
caps we can see. I don't know what's going to become of us."

The boy spoke seriously and for a moment his companions looked keenly
at him.

Sometimes it was difficult to decide just what thoughts were in John's
mind. His manner of speaking did not betray his innermost feelings.
This time, however, it was evident that he was anxious, if not alarmed,
and when a moment later Fred declared that he was so miserable that he
must find some relief, the anxiety of the Go Ahead boys increased
greatly.

Fred retired to the cockpit and stretched himself at full length upon
the cushions of the seats. A ghastly, greenish pallor was upon his face
and no proof was required that he was far from being happy.

John now took the wheel and did his utmost to hold the Black Growler to
a steady course.

Occasionally the motor-boat was caught in the trough of the waves and
the spray dashed over the boys. It was not long before every one was
wet, Fred taking more than his full share of the water. He was,
however, so miserable that he did not protest and even his friends now
were silent as they devoted their efforts to holding the motor-boat
steadily to her course.

All thoughts of luncheon were abandoned. Fred, of course, had passed
the stage where the thought of food brought any pleasure, while his
companions were so busy that they too had forgotten that midday had
arrived.

"You don't need to mind this too much," suggested John in his loudest
tones. "I have seen the wind come up and then go down just as suddenly
as it came. Perhaps that will be the way it will be to-day."

Whatever the thoughts in the minds of George and Grant were they did
not express them. They were standing near the wheel eagerly looking
before them.

Each boy was hopeful that a boat might be seen which would come to the
aid of the unfortunate Black Growler. Several passing steamers were
seen low on the horizon, but it was impossible to attract the attention
of any.

"I feel," said George at last breaking in upon the silence, "that we
made a great mistake this morning when we didn't t