half an hour yet."

Rather reluctantly Cora put the wheel over. Yet she recognized the truth
of what Jack had said. It would be dangerous to go ashore there. And to
turn back was equally out of the question, since the wind was rising. It
was at their backs, and to turn in the heavy sea now running might mean
an upset. To face the waves, too, would be dangerous. The only chance lay
in keeping on.

Jack's prophecy about the storm was not borne out. With a sudden burst of
wind, that whipped the salty spray of the waves over those in both boats,
and a sprinkle of rain that soon became a downpour, the tempest broke.

The girls screamed, and tried to get under some bits of canvas that Cora
had brought along to cover the engine. But the wind was so strong, and
the rain so penetrating that it was of little avail.

"Head her up into the waves!" cried Jack. "Take 'em bow on, Cora!"

"Of course!" she shouted back, and gripped the wheel with tense fingers.

A little later they were out on the heaving ocean. Fortunately the point
cut off some of the wind, and, having the gale at their backs helped
some. But the two motor craft, separated by some distance now, had no
easy time of it.

"Oh--oh!" moaned Belle.

"Be quiet!" commanded her sister. "Look at Eline!"

Eline was calm--that is, comparatively so.

"But--but she can swim better than I."

"Swim! No one will have to swim!" said Cora, not turning around. "I
wonder what's the matter with that man?" and she pointed to one in a
dory, who seemed to be signalling for help.

Then there came a further burst of the storm, and the rain came down
harder than ever.

CHAPTER XXI

THE WRECK

"There must certainly be something the matter with that man!" exclaimed
Cora. She had fairly to shout to be heard above the noise of the wind and
rain.

"Well, we daren't stop to see what it is," said Belle. "Oh, do go faster,
Cora! Get in quiet water! I am getting seasick!"

"Don't you dare!" cried Bess. "Think of--lemons!"

"I'm going to see what is the matter," declared Cora. "He's waving to us!"

"What about the boys?" asked Eline.

"They don't seem to see him. Besides, they're past him now, and it would
be risky to turn back. I can easily pass near him."

The man, who was in a power-driven dory, was waving and shouting now, but
the wind carried his words away. He seemed to be in some difficulty.

"Why doesn't he row in out of the storm?" asked Bess.

"Perhaps he has