ndled the wheel as only a
veteran tar could.

"I guess it's a hurricane," was Tom's comment.

"Looks more like a cyclone to me," spluttered Sam. "I'd give a good
deal to be out of it."

To keep from, being swamped they had to run out to sea. This was no
pleasant prospect to the boys, but it could not be helped.

"We needn't tell the girls," said Dick. "It will only worry them
more, without doing any good."

Two hours went by, and the storm kept on as madly as ever. Night was
now coming on, and soon it was impossible to see a hundred feet in
any direction. The yacht's lanterns were lit, and one was hoisted on
a stick which Dick nailed to the stump of the mast.

"We've got to, have some sort o' light," said Captain Jerry. "If not,
we may run afoul o' some other craft."

The time went by slowly, each hour seeming an age. Nobody felt like
eating, and nothing was said about supper until nearly nine o'clock,
when Dora opened the cabin door and called Dick:

"We thought we would get to shore before eating," she said. "How much
longer will we be out, do you think?"

"There is no telling, Dora," he replied evasively.

"No telling? Doesn't Captain Jerry know where we are?"

"Hardly. You see it is so dark, and we can't make any headway with
the mast gone."

"How stupid of me! I should have known that. Shall we try to fix up
some supper?"

"You might pass some sandwiches. But, no, we had better come down,
one at a time," returned Dick.

This suggestion was carried out, Captain Jerry being the last to go
down, leaving the wheel in the hands of Dick and Tom.

"Don't ye let it git away from ye," was his caution. "If ye do it
will be good-by, 'Liza Jane, an' all of us goin' slam bang to Davy
Jones' locker!"

From old Jerry the girls learned that they would probably have to
remain on the yacht all night.

"Don't ye git alarmed," he said. "The storm's goin' down, an' we'll
come out all right when the sun rises."

The prospect of remaining on the ocean all night was dismaying, and
all of the girls wondered what Mrs. Stanhope would say when they did
not return.

"I know mother will be very much worried," said Dora soberly.

It was decided by the boys that they should take turns at lying down,
each being given two hours in which to rest. Sam was the first to
turn in, but it is doubtful if he slept to any extent. Tom followed,
and then came Dick. Captain Jerry declined, stating he could sleep
when he had the party