“Is it starvin’ ye are? Thin will ye just step in here, for we’ve got the most illegant dinner ye ever sot eyes on.” And saying this he led them to the little secluded nook, where the table was spread on the grass.
At six o’clock they went up to tea, and Mrs. Pratt sympathized deeply with the poor boys, who had lost their appetites from anxiety.
XIII.
Adrift.—Skilful Navigators.—Breakers ahead.—A narrow Scratch.—Stuck in the Mud.
LET us now return to the unfortunate “B. O. W. C.” who had met so unexpectedly with another adventure.
On going on board of the schooner, they found the water low; and the tide had just begun to float her in rising. As they had slept but little the preceding night, they retired almost immediately, and soon were buried in a profound slumber. The next morning Phil was awake first. He went up on deck, and the next instant gave a loud cry.
“Hallo, boys!” he cried. “Get up! We’re adrift. Hurry up—quick!”
Awaking instantly at this startling news, they tumbled up on deck without a moment’s delay; and there, true enough, they found themselves far out in the bay, adrift, apparently, as Phil had said.
“This is queer,” said Bruce. “Here’s her anchor down, as usual.”