the attention of the four boys was quickly drawn in another direction. Not one of them was

waters and as it was still early in the morning, p

f the skiffs, while Grant and George together with the captain departed in the other. It was agreed that they should

hat in which his companions were being carried. "Look out f

ur fish?" la

in. We'll have a

the sport of the day, and it was not long bef

the two boats were landed at the place agreed upon a

t the folding table which the captain had brought in the Gadabout. "Isn

was as busy as any of his comr

That's what we're here for. Honest,

. "I cannot tell a lie, I caught

er boats up there where you were and I am going to ask

any fish!" retorted

wonder they call you the papa of your

d the captain, who throughout the meal had been bu

re fish than we

ome people do and some don't. It mostly depen

nk we're good?

were hooked so that they couldn't have got off the hook. There's a big difference between catchi

ou say. You show us the right

torted the captain as he turned away to

ore in tow and swiftly carried them seven miles farther, whe

s, arranged as in the morning, sought the pl

the four young fishermen that not one of them was aware of the increasing distanc

up and said, "It's getting late, Jack. We ought to be g

in which Grant and

es

wly, after he had glanced all about h

easily. "I hope the other fellows won't get in

t flashes of lightning were followed by reports of thunder that at first had been so low as scarcely to be noticed. Now, however, the sounds were threa

een all about them and the boys glanced anxiously at each other. The wind too had r

t, Jack," said

ent glances he cast at the sky indicated that

lp?" inquired John as he

he was exerting all his strength in his efforts to keep

ome heavy drops fell upon them and the nearb

e rising with difficulty from his seat and placing one oar in

aroused. The rain was falling in torren

wind was driving them away from the point. More and more the boys did their utmost but their efforts were in vain. At last the mat

tant, as both boys learned from their oarsman. However, it was with white and set

black were the clouds that already the boys were surrounded by darkness almost like that of night. Neither was able to see the shore toward wh

n the crashes of thunder. The streaks of the lightning seemed to fall directly into the waters of the lake an

f, was so tall that he was unable to follow the example of his friend and was clinging tenaciously to the sides of the boat

ining his purpose he did his utmost to change the direction so that they would move in a course parallel to the shore, but, labor as he

toward a cove not far away. For a time it seemed as if his efforts were to succeed. But at th

the rocky shore, then there was a crash and

Fishing rods, coats, cooking utensils, tackle, all things had been thrown into the water when the boat had struck the jutting rock. All these facts, however, were ignored in the efforts

called John as he s

ttered Fred. "Ho

here. Have you

's ahead

to his feet in the shallower waters and a momen

e same place of safety, although before their

s dogs might do when they come out of the water and then in a momen

ppened to Grant and George?

although his expression of confidence was beli

see the Gadabout or the skiff. They must have

e other side of the point too. I think that Grant and George probably have gone back to the Gadabout and are a

them?" inquired

g to signal with in the first place

d. "They say the lake up here gets quiet

soon to suit me," said Joh

. I don't see

g the shore, but no trace of th

presence of the Gadabout was to be seen on the waters before them. The oarsme

inting as he spoke to a spot in the d

it?" sa

ouse up yonder. D

ean a

e smoke coming out of the chimney. We'll

the strange house. Neither was aware that they were entering u