Frank listened for just three seconds. Then he made a dive for a locker, as if he thought the situation more or less desperate.
"What's he after?" exclaimed Will, amazed.
"That blooming conch-shell horn of Cousin Archie's. He's going to let those chaps know there's another boat out here, and that they don't own the earth, that's what."
And that was just what Frank meant to do. Seizing the conch-shell, from which the point had been cut, he blew a piercing blast that could have been heard a mile off. Again and again he sent out the warning sound, and presently an answering blast came through the dense fog, now swirling madly with the increasing breeze.
"They're right on us! There! I can just make out the top of a mast! Frank, they will run us down!" shouted Will, while the other continued to blow his horn with renewed vim, and the advancing gulf sponger came plunging straight toward the anchored Jessamine! It was a thrilling moment for the four chums.
CHAPTER XIV
A CRY ACROSS THE LAGOON
"Keep off, there!" shouted Bluff.
"Luff her, you!" howled Jerry.
"Too-oo-t! too-oo-t!"