kish,
"muddy" clouds first seen on the northeast horizon were looming up
rapidly, the wind now driving steadily from that quarter. Even with
all the smallness of her single sail the "Restless" was heeling over
considerably to port.

"Lay along here, Hank, and help me to put a double reef in the sail,"
Tom ordered. "I don't want this little bit of canvas blown away from
us."

As Tom called, he eased off the sheet, and Hepton lounged away from
the wheel.

"Too bad," muttered Hank Butts. "We've been making a good four knots
since the wind freshened."

"I'm out of a guess if there isn't a wind coming that'd take a sail
out of its fastenings in ten seconds," rejoined Halstead, working
industriously with the reeves.

A light squall struck them before the boys had finished their task.

"A September northeaster along this coast is no laughing matter, from
all I've heard of it," Tom explained as the two boys took the last
hitches. "Now, come on, Hank. We'll hoist her."

With long rhythmic pulls at the halyards Tom and Butts got the
shortened sail up, making all secure.

"You'd better take the wheel, Joe," sang out the young skipper.
"Hepton, stand by to give a hand if the helm moves hard."

"You seem rather excited over a pleasant breeze like this," observed
Powell Seaton.

"Wait," said Tom, quietly. "I only hope I am taking too much
precaution. I've never handled a boat along the Florida coast before,
you know, sir, so it's best to err on the side of caution."

Hank was sent off on the jump, now, to make everything secure, while
Skipper Tom took his place on the bridge deck at starboard to watch
the weather.

"I guess there'll be time, now, Hank, to rig life lines on the bridge
deck," hinted Halstead, coolly. "Never mind about any aft. Whoever
goes below can go through the motor room."

Catching a look full of meaning in the young commander's eye, Butts
hustled about his new task.

"You seem to be making very serious preparations," suggested Powell
Seaton, seriously.

"Nothing like being a fool on the wise side," answered Skipper Tom,
calmly.

Within ten minutes more the wind had freshened a good deal, and the
"Restless" was bending over considerably to port, running well,
indeed, considering her very small spread of canvas.

Now, the sky became darker. The weather was like that on shore in
autumn when the birds are seen scurrying to cover just before the
storm breaks.

"I reckon there's going to be s