ats made a fresh
start, in the same general alignment as before, with the _Wireless_
ahead, and the big _Comfort_ bringing up the rear.

Half an hour later and Jack, looking around, found that he could no
longer see either of his competitors, the rain and mist utterly
shutting them from view.

For some time, however, the heavy "pant" of the _Comfort's_ exhaust
came booming from the rear, though by slow degrees it grew fainter,
until finally even this sign of her presence failed.

"I hope George will be cautious in this half fog and rain," Jack could
not help remarking, as they continued to run along, and he kept Jimmie
constantly in the bow to report what the prospect ahead might be.

"Sure, I was just thinkin' that same," admitted the Irish lad, turning
his head for a minute while speaking. "It's so thick beyant that I do
belave a stameboat might crape up on us unawares, and we not know a
thing about it till we kim slap bang against its bow."

"That's one thing I'm afraid of," remarked Jack. "You notice that I
manage to keep fairly close to the shore, don't you, Jimmie? Once in a
while I glimpse the Illinois bank when the breeze lifts the fog a bit.
I wouldn't like to run out in the middle of the river in this muss.
The only thing I'm wondering is what boats coming up-stream do in a
mess like this? Do they creep along closer to the shore than usual; or
stick to the middle, and whistle from time to time?"

But Jimmie shook his head.

"Blest if I know a thing about it, Jack," he admitted. "All the same,
it's me opinion that ye're doin' the right thing. Sure, ye always do,
by the same token," for Jimmie was a great admirer of Jack Stormways,
and ready to stick to him through thick and thin.

"What a lucky thing it was Buster thought to tie that life preserver
on. Only for that he might have been drowned before any of us could
get to him," Jack remarked a short time later.

"Oh! after all, he's the wise guy, an' don't ye forget it, Jack. Only
I'm sorry for poor Buster, becase, ye say, he really don't hanker
afther goin' on the thrip at all, it sames. And sure, it must be
pretty tough balancing in that cranky ould boat all the time."

"Don't waste too much pity on Buster, Jimmie," laughed Jack. "When you
come to know him as well as I do you'll understand that a heap of his
agony is put on. To tell the truth, I've often suspected him of being
even a bigger joker than Josh. Besides, he ought to put up w