g down.

Even such a calamity would be better than remaining there, and it was
decided to be the only course now available. Every vestige of the
locker, or seats, or other appendages of the boat were swept away. The
bare shell of the stern portion remained.

It was now growing dark, and when the wreck was finally dislodged and
fell down with a crash the boys made their way down the sides very
cautiously. It was now but the work of moments to get afloat. The boat
originally had water-tight compartments, but these were now utterly
useless as a means of sustaining the vessel; nevertheless, it was a
means by which they might reach land, as they felt sure it would not
sink. Here was another difficulty. They had neither oar nor other means
of propelling it to shore. After considerable effort a portion of the
side of the boat was broken off, and tired and worn with the effort and
excitement they steered the craft shoreward. To do so was not an easy
task, as the wind had increased, and the waves beat stronger, but this
had no terror for them after all their previous experiences.

When the shore was reached Harry had one positive observation to make:
"I am going to see that this boat is so fixed that it won't get away."

George looked around, and in spite of their trials, could not help
laughing at Harry. "I should like to know how you are going to do it. I
don't see any ropes around here, and trying to pull it up this steep
beach wall will not be an easy job."

"Then we have got to take it where we can pull it up. I am tired of
losing things in this way. We'll have a nice story to tell the
Professor."

The Professor was by this time thoroughly alarmed, as well he might be,
for it was past eight o'clock that evening when, going down from
Observation Hill, he heard voices in the distance, and recognized the
boys. He called to them, and you may be sure that their answering voices
were joyful sounds.

When the boys appeared both began excitedly to detail their experiences,
getting details of the story involved without any sequence just as we
might expect an exciting, mixed-up recital of this kind to be under the
circumstances.

"You lost your boat and found the other one. You are having enough
experiences to fill a book."

CHAPTER X

THE BIRTHDAY PARTY; AND THE SURPRISE

You may be sure that the interesting topic of conversation that night
had relation to the events of the day. All previous experiences were
i