Then there was a baffling experience with the dense fog that came drifting down from the Banks. There the warm water of the Gulf Stream meets with the colder currents of air from the region of perpetual ice and snow, causing vapor to form almost every day in the year.

No accident occurred during the hours in which the Vixen was shrouded in fog, but they heard the fog horns sounding, and the heavy whistle that told of a liner off her course.

Finally the time came when the Vixen had to return to port, as the vacations of the jackies aboard had about expired, and most of them would have to buckle down to business again, much to their regret.

Hugh and his seven comrades took train for the home town, feeling that their experience with the Naval Reserve on their annual cruise had been a most valuable lesson all around, and one which had brought them new laurels as well.

“It was the greatest time ever,” sighed Billy as he and Hugh watched from the car the familiar landscape fly past as they drew near home. “And chances are we’ll none of us ever have such a glorious opportunity again.”

Hugh did not answer, for truth to tell Billy was voicing his own sentiments when he said this. Yet how little could they see ahead! Even at that very minute events were shaping themselves so as to bring about another combination that was likely to afford certain of the scouts yet another wonderful experience in a new field that none of them had ever dreamed of occupying. Just what that might be it would hardly seem fair to tell at this late point in the story. For the benefit of those readers who have become interested in the fortunes of Hugh Hardin and his chums, it ought to be enough to say that their further adventures will be continued in the next volume of this Series under the title of “The Boy Scouts in the Saddle.”

THE END

Transcriber’s Notes