With the coming of the sun over the water all were awake, and preparations for breakfast underway. Jack, Nick and Josh concluded to take a morning dip, while the rest were looking after the cooking of a heap of delicious flapjacks done to a brown turn as only the wonderful Josh could coax them.
Smoke rising slowly from the big power boat’s cook’s galley pipe announced that preparations were underway there for an early start.
Indeed, the vessel started to leave the harbor even while Jack and his mates were still sitting around the fire, disposing of the appetizing mess that had been so skillfully prepared for the crowd.
“Jack, it’s all right!” laughed George.
“Yes,” chimed in Nick, innocently, with a sigh of relief, “they’re heading north, sure as anything.”
“Oh! we forgot there was a pair of ’em, sighing like furnaces,” jeered Josh.
But Jack and the fat boy only laughed.
“Rank jealousy, Nick; don’t you bother your head about such cruel remarks,” said the former, winking to the stout youth.
“Well, everybody get busy now,” said George, jumping to his feet. “It looks like we might have a fairly decent day, if that blessed old wind keeps away. My boat rolls like fun when in a wash, and I don’t like it a bit. Hope we’ll have the air out of the southwest today, so we’ll be shielded by the shore.”
He hurried off to get aboard. The others were not far behind, for tents had been taken down, and blankets stowed, while breakfast was being cooked; so that there was not a great deal to do now.