. You've both done the same trick before."

Constant vigilance was to be the price of safety from this moment on.
Nothing must distract the attention of those who manipulated the motors
of the three boats caught in this sea in a storm.

Of course, George was accustomed to handling his narrow craft. Few
amateurs could have done better than the present skipper. He knew her
good qualities to a fraction, and was also acquainted with the bad
ones. Consequently, he was aware just how far he could allow her
quarter to face the sweep of wind and waves, without being thrown on
her beam-ends.

It was a ticklish business, very much like managing a treacherous mule,
loaded with kicks and bites at both ends. One little error of
judgment, and the result would be a spill that must toss the occupants
into the raging waters.

Jack had insisted that the owner of the _Wireless_ provide himself with
life preservers; each boat carried a couple, but in the case of George
and Nick, four had not been deemed too many.

Acting on the advice of Jack, George had fastened one of the cork
jackets on himself before the storm really broke; because afterwards he
would have no time to spare in attempting such a thing.

Nick had gone him one better; and seemed to be of huge proportions as
he crouched there, waiting for the worst to happen. He had also
secured his old White Wings, which had figured quite largely in
previous cruises, to his shoulders, as if he hoped and believed that
the bags filled with air would be of considerable assistance in keeping
him afloat.

Altogether Nick looked next door to a freak escaped from some side show
connected with a Barnum and Bailey's circus. Jack often remembered the
sight with more or less inward laughter. But it was no time for
merriment now, with that wind growing in violence, and the waves
assuming a most threatening appearance.

The minutes seemed like hours, so intense was the strain that held them
in its terrible grip. Jack had a double duty to perform, watching
those onsweeping waves, and at the same time keeping the shore under a
close supervision, so that he might discover when they came opposite
the mouth of a creek.

Such a place might be so narrow as to pass unnoticed unless one had
exceedingly keen eyes; and, moreover, kept up an unremitting watch.

Fortunately they were not fated to experience the worst that might have
happened to them; for the crux of the storm had not come along