loser chums than ever.

One day Hoke Ummer was caught abusing one of the small boys so greatly
that the boy had to be placed under a doctor's care.

The boy's father had Hoke arrested. The case, however, never came to
trial.

The consequence of the arrest was that the bully was dismissed from the
school; and that was the last Mont saw of him.

"We are well rid of him," he said, and Carl and the others agreed with
him.

One day Mont and Carl went out for an all-day cruise on the bay, taking
John Stumpton with them.

When the two schoolboys started out with the hired lad they did not
intend to remain away longer than sunset, and not one of them dreamed of
the marvelous adventures in store for each ere he should be permitted to
see his native land again.

The start was made in a fair breeze, and it looked so nice overhead that
Mont proposed they take a short run directly into the ocean.

"All right--I'll go you," answered Carl slangily, and away they skimmed.

By noon they were almost out of sight of land, and while they were
eating the repast Stump had prepared Carl proposed that they turn back.

This was hardly accomplished when it suddenly grew dark, and they found
themselves caught in a squall.

"By gracious! I didn't bargain for this!" cried Carl. "If we don't take
care, we'll go to the bottom!"

"Don't worry--yet," answered Mont. "I guess we'll get back all right."

Blacker and blacker grew the sky, until absolutely nothing could be
seen. Every sail was closely reefed, and the boys strained their eyes to
pierce the gloom which hung over them.

Suddenly Stump set up a yell.

"Look out; there is a ship!"

He got no further. A large form loomed up in the darkness. There was one
grinding, smashing crash, and then came a shock that split the
light-built sloop from stem to stern.

All of the boys were hurled into the boiling sea. But none was hurt;
and, coming to the surface, all struggled to cling to the wreckage
floating about, meanwhile crying loudly for help.

When they were picked up they were thoroughly exhausted, and Carl lost
his senses completely.

The ship that had run them down was the _Golden Cross_. The captain's
name was Savage, and he was bound for the Bermudas.

He refused to stop anywhere to put the boys off, saying he had not the
time to do so.

In reality he was afraid he would be brought to account for wrecking the
sloop.

He would not believe that Mont and Carl were rich, a