“Why,” replied Jack. “Because they had warning from the weather bureau that a storm was coming, and delayed starting out. These captains know what it is to meet up with a Lake Superior storm.”
“Yes,” spoke up Jimmie, “it’s only the nervy little boats like ours that laugh at all the blows as comes along. Look at us, would ye, smashin’ through the big waves like the sassy things. Slap! bang! and come again, would ye? Sure, it’s weather on’y fit for motor boats, it do be.”
“Yes,” laughed George, “we’re all mighty brave about now; but I tell you boys, I felt squeamish for hours when the storm was on. I knew what would happen to us if the wind whipped around before morning. Excuse me from another experience like that. Wonder where Clarence and Joe were then?”
“That’s so, they did go on,” Jack remarked. “I hope they had shelter. I wouldn’t want my worst enemy to be wrecked on such a terrible night.”
A short time later Jimmie cried out again: “There do be a steamer comin’ along there, Jack!”
“Steamer nothing!” echoed Josh, who happened to be using George’s glasses at the same time. “I’ve been watching that thing for five minutes now. And do you know what I think it is, fellows?”
“What?” demanded Jack, who could not leave his duties even for the minute that it would take to glance through the glasses.
“A wreck!” exclaimed Josh, with thrilling emphasis.
Then everybody sat up, and began to look eagerly in the direction mentioned. It was far out over the troubled waters; and the object could only be seen when it happened to be lifted on the crest of a wave.
“It is that same, upon me worrd!” cried Jimmie, presently. “I cud say the thing thin as plain as the nose on me face.”