"I think not. She's heaviest at the bottom, and I made her keel very heavy on purpose."
"Why, did you expect to go to sea in her?"
"No, but I thought I might have to do it, to get away from Pensacola."
"Did you think of that when you planned her, up there in the woods?"
"Yes," said Sid, "of course he did! Don't he always think of every thing before it comes?"
It was rapidly coming on to storm. The rain was falling very slightly now, and the wind was shifting to the east and rapidly rising. Sam directed the boys to shorten sail, and showed them how to do it. The wind grew stronger and stronger, suddenly shifting to the south. The sail was still further shortened. The sea now began coming up, and Sam saw that their chief danger was that of getting washed overboard. He cautioned the boys against this, and changed the boat's course, so as to keep her as nearly as possible where she was. A heavy sea broke over her, and carried away their only water keg, which was a dire calamity. After a little while their store of food went, and they were at sea, in a storm, without food or water!
"I say, Sam," said Tom.
"What is it?"
"Is there land all to the north of us?"