“Well, it might help, but I guess we won’t need it. Those folks in New York take their time, don’t they? You’d better have bought one here. That breeze is a goner, folks.”
It was. The sails hung motionless. The deck and the oars were damp and slippery now and their clothing was beaded with moisture. Arnold was breathing heavily as he labored at his sweep. The trying feature of it was that, with nothing to measure progress by, they seemed not to be moving at all! The boys became silent at their task. Now and then Phebe, between lugubrious winds of the patent fog-horn, offered a comment, but she seldom got a reply. A quarter of an hour passed, during which time the fog grew thicker, heavier and more depressing, and then there was a sudden exclamation of dismay from Arnold, his feet pattered on the wet planks and they saw him throw himself across the gunwale and clutch desperately for his disappearing oar!
Toby tossed his own oar down and, seizing the boat-hook, jumped to Arnold’s assistance. But already the escaped oar had floated away into the surrounding grayness. Toby silently returned the boat-hook to its place. Then, catching sight of Arnold’s despairing countenance, he broke into a laugh. “Never mind, Arn,” he said comfortingly, “we’ve still got one left, and there’s the boat-hook, too. How did you happen to lose it?”
“It was wet and slippery and—and I guess I was tired,” replied Arnold contritely. “The first thing I knew it was sliding over the side. Gee, but I’m a chump!”
“Oh, shucks, that’s nothing. Cheer up!”
“Couldn’t you scull over the stern, Toby?” asked his sister. “I believe we’d go just as fast.”
“I’ll try it,” answered Toby. “Find a length of rope, Arnold, and I’ll make a lashing. I’ve got to rest a bit first, though.” He sank to the wet seat with a tired sigh. “Running a launch is too easy, sis. It makes you soft.”
“There’s a puff of wind,” said Phebe hopefully. “Perhaps the breeze is coming up again.”
“I wish it would,” said Arnold. “What is it you do when you want a breeze? Whistle, isn’t it?”
“Sure,” laughed Toby. “Try it!”