“We went along fine for a time. I never knew the dory to go so fast but finally we realised that we needed that reef,” Billy continued. “We would have run down the sail and put in the reef out in the open bay but Fred said, ‘Oh, half a minute more will see us in the lee of the island.’ We would have been all right if that nasty little squall hadn’t caught us just half a minute too soon!”
“Boys, you knew you ought to have a reef in the sail, and hereafter, don’t wait that half-minute too late to put it in. The cause of accidents and loss of life is that same excuse—‘oh, we’ll be all right in half a minute!’” warned Mrs. Remington.
“How does it feel to climb out on the centreboard in a gale?” asked Dudley, curiously.
“Didn’t stop to diagnose the feeling!” laughed Fred.
“I just guess not!” added Billy.
“I bet you were glad there were air-tanks in your dory, all right!” declared Paul.
“I just bet we were too!” sighed both adventurers.
And Fred added: “We knew we’d be all right if we just got out the ballast, even though she was full of water.”
“But all the same, we were glad to see the Captain heave in sight through the spray, and then when we got near the island it kinda felt good to see you all waiting to welcome us,” smiled Billy.
“I never saw anything drift so fast in all my life—even though the wind and tide were working together,” said Dudley.