of sailor men," assented Ross, throwing
out his chest.

"Listen to the mutual admiration society," jibed the irrepressible
Teddy. "Blushing violets aren't in it with them. Here you let my modest
worth pass unnoticed, while you're handing bouquets to each other. But
that's the way it is in this world. It's nerve and gall that counts. Now
if I----"

But his eloquent peroration was spoiled by a hasty shift to escape a
life preserver that Lester hurled at his head, missing him by an inch.

"You'd better let me have Teddy aboard the _Sleuth_," laughed Ross.
"Then if the engine gives out, I'll start Teddy wagging his tongue. That
will furnish power enough."

"Not a bit of it," replied Lester. "I want him here, in case the wind
gives out."

"It's evident that I'm the most important person here, anyway," retorted
Teddy. "Neither one of you seems to be willing to get along without me."

"Seven cities claimed Homer, you know," said Bill sarcastically.

"Yes," said Teddy complacently, "he and I are in the same class."

Ross turned his boat around, and the two craft went along side by side.

"The sea's like a mill pond to-day," remarked Fred. "How different from
the day of the storm, when we watched it from the observation room. Do
you remember what your father said?"

"Not especially," answered Lester. "What particular thing do you mean?"

"Why, when he prophesied that many a good ship would lay her bones on a
reef or beach before the storm was over."

"I suppose he was anxious," answered Lester gravely, "but I haven't
heard of any ship's being wrecked on this particular strip of the coast
during this storm. The worst time we've had around here, as far as I can
remember, was about three years ago. That storm kept up for three days
and three nights, and when it was over there were at least a dozen
wrecks, just on the coast of Maine.

"By the way," he went on, as a sudden thought struck him, "we'll have to
pass one of those wrecks a few miles from here. It's a schooner that
went ashore in the storm. There's part of the hull left, and, if you
like, we'll run in and look it over."

"Was the crew saved?" asked Fred.

"Every soul aboard was drowned," Lester answered soberly. "They were
swept overboard before the life-saving crew could get to them. The masts
went over the side, and the hull was driven so hard and deep into the
sand that it has been there ever since."

A half hour more passed, and then Lester gave a tw