"Do you really think they'll do anything?" asked Will pointedly.
"No, I don't. In the first place, they must know that there's quite a crowd of us aboard. Then such boats as this are apt to carry a few guns along. Just sleep in peace, Will. The chances are ten to one the only thing apt to arouse us to-night may be the howl of a norther," said Frank soothingly.
About ten o'clock both Bluff and Will began yawning.
"Go to bed, you fellows. Jerry and I will manage the first and second watches between us. If we want help, we'll knock you up," observed Frank.
He gave Jerry a wink at the same time, as if to notify him to remain up; and the observant Jerry understood that Frank had a card of some sort up his sleeve.
"Say, what's in the wind?" he asked in a whisper, when they were left alone.
Frank put his finger on his lips, as he said in an equally guarded tone:
"Not so loud. I don't want them to hear."
"Then you really expect trouble with those rascally spongers?" demanded his chum.
"That depends. But I'll tell you what I've decided to do, Jerry."