t Jim thought he heard something else. He listened, and in a few
moments a cry came faintly across the sands. Somebody was calling for
help, and Jim began to run. He might have to go some distance and his
punt would soon float.

After a few minutes he plunged into a belt of mist. The sand was soft
and his waders and heavy gun embarrassed him, but he heard the call
again and thought he knew the voice. He labored on, breathing hard,
until by and by the tog melted and he saw two figures not far off.

"Jake!" he shouted. "Is it you and Carrie?"

Jake answered, and Jim was conscious of a relief that shook him when
the others came up. Carrie was splashed by mud and breathless with
haste.

"What are you doing on the sands?" he asked.

"Car broke down; we tried to get across," Jake replied. "Saw the
Langrigg hill when we started and then the fog came on. They told us
to head for some stake-nets, but we couldn't find them. Then we met
the water and reckoned we were lost. Is your punt about?"

"She is not far off," said Jim, who turned to Carrie. "We must hustle.
Can you run?"

Carrie said she would try and they set off, but when they had gone a
few hundred yards a wave of thick fog rolled up, blotting out the
moonlight.

"This is awkward," Jim gasped, taking Carrie's arm and helping her on.
"Still, if we keep going, we'll soon strike the gutter."

The roar of the surf gave him some guidance, but sound is puzzling in a
fog; there was very little wind, and he could not see the moon. He
knew the tide was now running up the channel and hoped he was heading
the right way. Shortly afterwards a dull report rolled across the
sands.

"A ten-bore!" he exclaimed. "Mordaunt uses a twelve. I expect Dick's
shooting, and since the water's rising, he's on the shore flat. Where
do you locate the shot?"

"A little to the left," said Jake.

They swerved and presently heard the gun again.

"That's for us," gasped Jim. "Dick has found the punt; I reckon she's
afloat."

"Let me go, Jim," said Carrie. "Hurry on and get the punt."

Jim pressed her arm and urged her forward. "I'm going to stick to you
until you're safe on board."

"Water!" shouted Jake, from a few yards in front; and something
glimmered in the fog, which was getting thin again.

They could see for a short distance, but when they stopped at the edge
of the channel the punt was not about. She was, however, painted an
inconspicuous gray, and Jim