not here now."

"Hush, boys, he's coming to," declared Tom, watching the newcomer
anxiously for signs of returning consciousness.

"Sure enough," assented Harry. "I tell you that little trick of pulling
a fellow's tongue out isn't near as good as turning him face down. Look
how easily this chap came around."

"We'd better get him in and get him to bed as soon as we can, boys,"
admonished Jack. "He needs a warming up."

"I'll start the electric heater and percolate some coffee for both of we
rescued persons," declared Arnold. "Lucky I hadn't put on my oilskins
after getting dinner," he added.

Quickly the boys carried the stranger to the cabin and put him into one
of the berths. There every care was bestowed to make him comfortable and
easy, while Arnold prepared the coffee.

"Lay right there and don't try to talk," advised Arnold. "I'll stay with
you and see that you don't want for anything."

"That's kind of you," replied the stranger. "What vessel is this, if I
may ask before you make me keep quiet?"

"This is a gasoline pleasure launch," replied Arnold.

"Oh, thanks," replied the stranger. "Now, I'll rest a while."

In the pilot house the boys discussed the incident that had so nearly
resulted in a collision. They were all excited and beginning to feel the
strain upon their nerves.

"This is getting to be one of our usual strenuous trips," announced
Jack. "I declare we never go anywhere, it seems, but we dash head
foremost into excitement and trouble. The only thing we need now to
start us right is to discover a Boy Scout or two out here and we'll be
prepared to go ahead and have some adventure."

"Never mind, Captain, we'll find the Boy Scouts, all right. Don't think
our luck will turn yet. Just remember the horseshoe I picked up on the
street in Mobile," urged Tom.

"Yes," Jack assented, "that's a fact. And, by the way, where did you put
that horseshoe? I haven't seen it since."

"I hung it up on the switchboard lamp bracket," said Tom.

"Well, it isn't there now," declared Jack.

"What's that isn't there now?" asked Arnold at that moment climbing the
companion-way from the cabin.

"Tom's horseshoe," Jack replied. "He says he hung it on the lamp over
the switchboard and now it's gone."

"Oh, that," scorned Arnold. "That was just a little bit of a mule shoe.
That wasn't a real full-sized horse shoe."

"All right, Smarty," bridled Tom. "Just tell us where you threw it
overboard and we'll make