"Well, I guess all our mothers will have fits," observed Frank quietly, "but that isn't going to help us out of this trouble."
"Do you know how the drift of this tide goes?" inquired the Codfish. "It might sweep us in shore far enough so that one of you fish-men could jump overboard and swim ashore for help."
"Yes, that's a good scheme. Owing to the curve of the Seawall shore we are now about a mile out. The current splits on Flat Rock, which ought to be showing pretty soon if we have light enough. If we have luck to swing over to the shore side of the rock we will drift pretty close, but if we go on the outside of it we are likely to go on up the coast or out to sea."
"Fine mess we're in," growled Lewis, who grew more nervous as the night drew down over the waters.
"Oh, say something new," snapped the Codfish sharply. "We've heard that for a long time. Can't you think up an original remark?" Lewis glowered in silence, muttering to himself. Jimmy sat down on the bottom of the boat and began to tinker with the batteries, while Frank and the Codfish stood up and peered into the gathering darkness.
"Listen, what was that?" whispered Frank. "Didn't you hear some one calling?"
The four huddled together close. Jimmy left his tinkering and Lewis forgot his hard luck for the moment.