"Yep, I suppose so, but I hoped they wouldn't have brains enough to plan it."
He had already stopped the effort to float the boat, fearing to strain some part of the machinery, and all was quiet on board, as they watched the small craft drawing gradually closer.
"How about firing a few rounds over their heads?" Bob asked.
"It won't do any harm, I suppose," the captain replied, and an instant later they all fired together, emptying their revolvers as rapidly as they could pull the triggers. By this time the small boats were spread out in a semicircle and as the shots rang out, the paddlers stopped as though undecided whether to keep on or to turn back. But, after a few moments of indecision, evidently noting that no one had received an injury, the leader shouted an order and the paddlers resumed their work.
"Reckon we'll have to make a hit or two next time," the captain announced grimly. "That didn't seem to impress them much."
The sun had come up bright and clear, but for some time now a haze, which had been getting thicker and thicker, had obscured it, until now it was shut out entirely.
"The worst thing possible's going to happen, I'm afraid," Captain Ole said soberly as he glanced about him.
"You mean we're going to have a fog?" Mr. Lakewood asked anxiously.
"In less than five minutes."
"That's bad."