On and on drifted the Skip, driven by wind and tide. The night wore on, and the boys, unable to stay up any longer, went to the bunks to rest, lashing the steering wheel to keep the rudder straight. They did not know where they were going. They only knew they were drifting.
The rain did not come down so hard now, and the wind had slackened. Only once in a while did it lighten and thunder.
It must have been near morning, for a faint, hazy light was coming in through the bull's-eyes windows, when Sammy was suddenly awakened in his bunk by feeling a shock. He jumped out into the middle of the cabin, crying:
"Fellows, we struck something! Maybe we've gone ashore!"
CHAPTER XIII THE ABANDONED BOAT
Bob and Frank were so surprised by Sammy's sudden call that they could only stare stupidly at him, and try to rub some of the sleepy feeling from their eyes. Then, as the bumping and grinding sound still kept up, Sammy cried again:
"Fellows, we sure have struck something. Maybe we're at a dock! Oh, I hope so! I guess our voyage has ended!"
"Good!" cried Bob.