“Well, we’re off at last, Cap’n Seth,” Bob said, as the captain joined them in the stern.
“Yep, we’re on the move,” he replied, as he examined the hawser to see if it was securely fastened.
“How about the weather?” Jack asked.
“Wall neuw,” and the captain took a hasty glance toward the west. “I’m a thinkin’ we’ll have a bit o’ weather afore dark, but I’m hopin’ as how we may git across afore it strikes us. It’s twelve miles straight across to East Outlet an’ we kin make it in about five hours if the pesky wind don’t blow any harder nor it is neuw, but I don’t jest like the looks o’ that bank o’ clouds over thar,” and he pointed toward the west where the boys could see a heavy looking fringe of leaden colored clouds.
Very slowly the steamer gained speed until the captain assured them that they were making almost three miles an hour, which is considered very good unless the wind is in the right direction.
“That bank of clouds is getting higher all the time, Jack,” Bob declared, as for the hundredth time he cast an anxious glance toward them.
“And the wind is blowing harder than it was too,” Jack returned. “I don’t believe we’re making more’n a couple miles an hour.”
“We’re not exactly exceeding the speed limit,” Bob grinned, as he glanced down at the water.
They had been on the way for nearly two hours and were about a third of the way across. Off to the left, about a half a mile distant, was Sugar Island, the largest of the many islands which dot the lake. Sugar Island has an area of some 5,000 acres.
“We’re not going to make it before dark, that’s certain,” Bob said about an hour later. “We’re not making more’n a mile an hour I’ll bet and the wind is getting stronger every minute.”