r. I don't know
whether it's because they're smart or lucky."

"They're both," said Mrs. Rushton proudly.

CHAPTER XIV

A FEROCIOUS ENEMY

When the boys woke the morning after their adventure, their first
thought was of the weather. They had set their hearts on taking the trip
over to Milton to call on Mark Taylor and they would have been sorely
disappointed at any indication of a storm.

But they could have spared their worry. There was not a cloud in the
sky, the sun was rising brilliantly in the east, and the waves fell in a
soft monotonous murmur at the foot of the lighthouse.

"It's going to be a dandy day," reported Teddy gleefully, as he came
back from the window. "Get up there, you sleepy heads," he commanded,
with the conscious virtue of the one who rises first.

Three rumpled heads turned on the pillows of the various cots in the big
room where the boys slept. A well-aimed pillow caught one of them plump
and full, and caused a hasty withdrawal beneath the sheet.

"Cut out the rough house, or I'll get up there and fan you," came the
drowsy voice of Bill, who happened to be the victim.

"No danger," jeered Teddy. "You haven't ambition enough to make a move."

"I haven't had half sleep enough," yawned Fred. "Why don't you get up in
the middle of the night and be done with it?"

"''Tis the voice of the sluggard, I hear him complain,'" quoted his
brother. "I'd hate to be as lazy as this bunch of hoboes. If you don't
hurry, I'll go out and find that chest of gold all by my lonesome."

The mention of the gold had a magical effect. It acted like a dousing of
cold water. In a moment the boys were on their feet and hurrying into
their clothes.

"By ginger! I hadn't had time to think of that," remarked Bill, as he
poured the water in his basin, "or you wouldn't have needed a pillow to
rout us out."

"Dad has the coffee pot on already," said Lester as a savory aroma came
up the stairs. "Let's get a wiggle on."

The boys trooped down the stairs to find breakfast ready for them.

"We want to eat a plenty, fellows," observed Lester, setting them the
example. "We've got a long sail before us."

The lads needed no urging and the way the food disappeared was almost
miraculous.

"Now," said Lester when the breakfast had been finished, "you fellows go
out and get the boat ready to start, while I get enough grub together to
last a couple of days. We may not always have clams and bluefish just
when we