ter he had been closely examining his charts
again by the light of the cheery camp fire.

"Do you really mean it, Jack, darlint?" demanded Jimmy, with the air of
one who had almost given up hope.

"I sure do," replied the other. "As I make it out, this is Bull's
Island we are on right now. If that's a fact, there's a fine inside
passage all the way to Charleston Bay, behind several other islands, or
at least one big one called Capers. Our troubles are over, so far as
this part of the trip goes."

"That's bully good news you're giving us, Jack," remarked George; "and
I hope it won't prove a delusion and a snare. I've had about as much
of that push pole business as is good for my constitution, I guess."

"Yes, and look at me!" cried Nick, pulling a long face, though with
only a great effort; "pretty near skin and bones, with all this worry
and hard work; and to add insult to injury, put on half rations
latterly. It's a shame, that's what."

"Rats!" scoffed the unbelieving George; "I'd like to wager now that
you've gone and picked up ten pounds since starting on this cruise. By
the way you put away the grub it ought to be nearer twenty."

"You don't mean to hurt my feelings, I know, George," said the fat boy,
sweetly; "and, considering the source, I'll forgive you. But I warn
you plainly, right now, that if I have to keep on being crew to your
blooming old speed boat, I'm going to lay in a lot of rubber cushions
at Charleston, so as to keep me from rubbing all the skin off my poor
body when I have to sleep aboard here, and the boat wabbles with every
teenty wave. Don't you say a word, for my mind's made up."

"Oh! get whatever you want in that line; it doesn't make a bit of
difference to me. I never have needed cushions so far," George
exploded, sarcastically.

"Huh! that's easy; because you've got me to bang up against!" exclaimed
Nick.

"That's right, George; he's got one on you there," laughed Jack.

"And who'd want a finer cushion than our Nick?" remarked Herb.

"Nature knew what was needed, when he was padded and filled out so
well," Josh managed to work in with; "and if ever I needed a bumper,
I'd pick him out first thing."

"Get out!" snapped Nick; but all the same he grinned as though
complimented.

On the following morning, then, they made an early start, for there was
considerable of a distance to be covered ere they could reach the
hospitable docks of Charleston by the sea.

Jack knew