a due amount of caution, just as we
promised those at home, when they gave us permission to take this jolly
trip. And that's our slogan all the time, 'Speed, with care!' It's a
winning combination, I tell you, boys."

They spent the night near Darien, in a creek that they happened to be
passing through as a sort of short-cut.

Jack's confidence proved to be well placed, for on the following day
they safely passed both St. Simon's and the big Cumberland Sound,
bringing up close to Fernandina by nightfall.

Jack advised against trying to reach the city in the dusk. There was
danger of running upon a snag, or happening to attract the attention of
dissolute characters, who, taking advantage of the darkness of the
night and the fact of the cruisers being strangers to the place, might
attempt to rob them.

His plan was to stay where they were, a safe distance away, until
morning, and then make their way across to the city.

"Just to think that we've really and truly done it," said Nick, puffing
out with either pride or the amount of food he had consumed for supper;
"and right at this minute the Motor Boat Club is resting on Florida
soil! Why, I can hardly believe it. A year ago I'd have laughed if
any fellow told me I'd engage to do one quarter of the stunts we've
carried out since we left Philadelphia."

"Oh! you're improving every way," chuckled Josh. "I can even see signs
of it in your eating. You've got three of us combined beat to a
frazzle right now; and honest Injun, we think that by another month you
can stand off the whole bunch. Long practice makes for success, and we
all give you credit for trying your level best, Nick, every time."

It was a lovely night, this their first in Florida. The trees,
festooned with the long, swinging, gray Spanish moss, looked like the
real tropical thing to all of the boys. And they felt a pride that was
surely justifiable, in the success that had attended their cruise down
the coast.

"Best thing we ever did, and that's straight," asserted Herb.

"And not one serious accident to mar the record," Jack nodded, his eyes
sparkling with satisfaction.

"Of course we don't count those several little adventures of our fat
friend here," Josh put in, jerking his thumb in the direction of Nick,
"because we all understand that, being such a good-natured fellow, and
wanting to keep us in good humor, he did those stunts on purpose. Yes,
I agree with the rest of you, that we d