or a moment, then let out a howl that echoed and reechoed across
the water.

"Well, here goes back to town," cried Jack. "That dog is all right to do
some things, but he isn't much use, of course, as a bloodhound. I can't
blame him but he's really no use in that line."

Rowdy felt keenly the disgrace that was heaped upon him. He slunk into
the stern sheets and hid behind Frank's legs.

Once more at the shipyard the boys began to think of dinner. Before
their preparations could be started, however, the foreman of the work on
the Fortuna announced to them that the little vessel was all ready for
the water. The plank was repaired, the boat all painted and ready for
launching. Nothing was needed except a full crew.

"Let's get her into the briny, then," Jack ordered. "We've had long
enough visit ashore. Let's get out to sea again."

"I'm with you there," declared Frank. "It was too bad we were forced to
come here at all. I want to be on my way and find the boys. They must be
somewhere near here. May be they are purposely hiding."

"Hello, there's your boat back," cried Tom to the day watchman. "And as
I live, there's our Petit Bois skiff," he shouted.

"That's the boat the boys had last night," ejaculated Frank.

"Say," the watchman called, "Wyckoff was lookin' for you."

"What did he say he wanted?" asked Jack.

CHAPTER XVIII

SHANGHAIED!

"We ought to answer that signal," declared Harry. "Maybe there's a Boy
Scout needs help in the next room."

"Remember your motto," cautioned Arnold. "Be Prepared for trouble and
for enemies as well as to help someone."

"We haven't had much chance to help anyone so far today," asserted
Harry. "This may be just the chance to take the knot out of our
neckties, so I'm going to take a chance. We can't afford to be too
careful. If we were in trouble, we'd want help."

"That's so," admitted Arnold. "Go to it, then. I'm with you."

"Let me roll over and get on my feet and I'll slap, slap, slap on the
floor with my foot," declared Harry. "That'll be easy."

"Why don't you whistle 'Bob White,' at him?" queried the other.

"Because we're not allowed to use the call of another Patrol. If he's a
Bob White, he can't in reason howl like a wolf or bark like a dog or
slap, slap like a beaver. You understand that."

"Sure I do," admitted Arnold, "but I overlook things sometimes."

Harry now succeeded in rolling over onto his face and from that
uncomfortable position ro