"That's so. I've no great fancy for getting wet," said Billy.
"Nor have I. We've had enough experiences of late to last us a long time," laughed Jack.
"And I was left out of every one of them," grumbled Noddy.
"For which you ought to be duly thankful," said Billy.
"Yes, I didn't enjoy that stone house much, or the soot," declared Jack.
"That cave didn't make much of a hit with me, either," said Billy. "My, those green eyes gave me a scare. I thought it was a bear or a mountain lion, sure; but they say there aren't any such animals in this part of the country."
"Abner said it must have been a lynx," said Jack.
"That being the case, you should have cuffed it," chuckled Noddy.
For the time being he escaped punishment for perpetrating this alleged pun, for the wind began to freshen and the Curlew slid through the water like a thing of life. The shore drew rapidly nearer.
But the cloud curtain spread with astonishing rapidity, till the whole sky was covered. The water turned from green to a dull leaden hue. Puffs of wind came with great velocity, heeling over the Curlew till the foam creamed in her lee scuppers.