ehoboth Bay, and actually passing
around Cape Henlopen, since boats the size of theirs could not well be
carted across the land to Love Creek, as if they were canoes.

Nick busied himself with the last of the oysters, which he had made
sure to throw aboard the _Wireless_, and had found no time up to now,
to tackle. George was tinkering with his motor, a customary amusement
with him; for his heart was bent on learning how to coax yet another
bit of speed from the engine that racked his boat so terribly when put
at full speed.

On the _Comfort_, Josh and Herb, with room to spare, were having a game
of dominoes, and enjoying themselves very much. This was the time when
the joy of having plenty of elbow room made itself manifest.

Later on, during a little lull in the rainfall, Jack crept out to take
observation, just as though he might have been an old salt, on board a
sea-going vessel.

The storm was raging quite furiously, and made a roar that must have
seemed more or less terrifying, had one been out on the big bay,
instead of having this snug harbor.

"Whether this is Murderkill Creek, or the one rejoicing in the
aristocratic name of Jones, it doesn't matter one cent," he declared,
as he turned to Jimmy, who had followed him outside for a breath of air
before laying down to sleep. "Just listen to that howl out yonder, and
then call this bully place a bad name, will you? Let her whoop it up
as she pleases, we can laugh, and sleep in peace; for there's good
ground between us and the raging sea. Hear the waves break on shore,
would you, Jimmy? Starting out by rescuing a poor chap from a watery
grave did bring us good luck, now, I'm thinking."

CHAPTER VII.

HOW THE MOTOR BOAT FLOTILLA WENT TO SEA.

In spite of the racket made by the storm, the boys managed to get in a
pretty fair night's sleep. In the first place they were tired; and
then they had some lost rest to make up. That first night had not been
very much of a success as a slumber maker.

With the breaking of morning Jack took an observation by peeping out.
The rain was still coming down spitefully; and the roar of the waves on
the nearby shore announced how utterly impossible it would be for the
small craft to continue their voyage south on this day.

"We're in for a stop-over, Jimmy," he announced, as a sleepy voice from
among the blankets inquired as to the prospects.

It was not long before other laments were heard in the land, as Ni