“Which way is the tide running?” asked Frank.
“It’s coming in.”
“Then, if we go forward slowly enough, we’ll soon float off, if we should happen to hang up on a rock. There is no need to break in the bottom of the launch by running on at full speed.”
“Will you chance it?” asked Howard.
“Yes, I’ll pay all damages.”
“Then here goes.”
So they slowly crept in through a cleft in the rocks, which soon rose black and ugly on both sides of them. Merriwell lighted the small lantern with which the launch was provided and crept out on the bow with it in his hand, so that the light might show Dustan how to steer.
The light shone on the smooth water and against the black sides of the rocks which rose to the right and left. The motion of the screw set the waves lapping up against the rocks with a swishing sound.
“We are all right in here,” said Dustan, “unless the water is so shallow that we’ll be aground at low tide. We’ll have to make a sounding.”
The lead and line was taken out, and Diamond sounded. He found there was enough water so the yacht could not touch bottom at low tide. Indeed, all were astonished by the depth of the water. The launch lay close up against the rocks, and there it was found there was sufficient water.