"Let's go back to the yacht!" urged the trembling Paula, her voice choking.
"I am quite ready," said Inza. "I don't care about going over to that island now."
So Frank pulled back to the floating oar, and then the boat was headed toward the White Wings.
Merriwell did his best to restore the girls' spirits. He joked and laughed, and before the yacht was reached he had almost convinced them that they had been in no great danger.
"But, oh, it gave me such a fright!" said Paula. "Just to see that huge creature coming through the water straight toward us! It was awful!"
Frank was chosen as the one to relate the adventure to Miss Gale, for the girls were aware that she might scold them for leaving the yacht without her consent, and Frank could make it all right with her.
Hans was on deck, but he had not seen their adventure with the whale, although he had heard the report of the rifle, for he cried as they approached:
"Vot you shooted? I heard der gun ven id fired you off."
"We shot a large seabird," answered Frank; "but the varmint got away from us."