ward which Jabez Slocum pointed out to them. As for
the fishermen themselves, they seemed content to stretch out under a
tarpaulin on deck; and the _Sarah Jane_, with lights set to show her
position, though they could not have been seen a dozen feet distant,
rocked sleepily in the fog at the end of her cable.

When morning dawned, the fog rolled away under the influence of a
brilliant sun, showing an attractive sight. Other fishing-boats, big and
little, were rising and falling on the swell. To the northward a
steamer, outward bound, trailed from her triple funnels banners of black
smoke. From the southward a "fruiter," as the vessels bringing fruit
from the West Indies are called, came bravely up the coast. There were
other vessels--schooners, barks, sloops, and the coast itself was
visible as a blue line. Finally, one of the Slocum brothers came to
Merriwell and held out a scrap of paper. Frank glanced at it, and read,
in an almost illegible scrawl: "Sea Cove."

"They will take us to Sea Cove!" Inza explained.

"New York City," Merry wrote.

The deaf-mate shook his head and again pointed to the name "Sea Cove."

"What's the odds?" said Bart. "There is a railway there, and no doubt
boats running to New York. And then it will give us an opportunity to
investigate the murder of poor Barney a little. By to-night we can be in
New York, if all goes well!"

"Put us aboard the fruiter or some steamer," Frank again wrote.

But the man shook his head.

"It is Sea Cove or nothing," said Inza. "And he would be glad, I think,
to have it nothing."

"Sea Cove it is, then," Frank agreed.

But the promise was productive of no immediate good. There was no
breeze, and, as the _Sarah Jane_ was on the shallow banks, far out of
the route of the steamers, there was nothing to do but to cultivate
patience and wait. At Frank's urging, Peleg set a signal from the
masthead, but it drew no vessel near them.

The Slocums seemed glad that they were not to be called on to sail at
once for land, and they proceeded to get out long hand-lines and fish
over the sides of the sloop. Wherever they went they were followed by
their dog, that limped from the blows Bart had given it. The dog would
not make friends with the newcomers, but showed its teeth in a
threatening way whenever Bart or Frank came near. Finally Merriwell and
his friends also engaged in the fishing to kill time, and with
considerable success. Thus the day wore wearily along u