"What do you think is the best thing to do?" inquired Fred.
"My suggestion is to go back to the boat, not have much to say to the men and get ready to start. They won't bother us, at least I don't believe they will."
"What shall we do if they make trouble?"
"It will be time enough to decide that when we have to," replied Grant. "I'm sure they won't make any trouble after they see that we are going to start."
"All right, we'll try it," said Fred dubiously, and once more returning to the place where the Black Growler was awaiting them, the three bags which contained the belongings of the boys were placed on board and ignoring the bantering of the men, they at once prepared to cast off.
"You don't mean to say we're going to start now, do you?" inquired the leader.
"Yes," said Fred shortly.
"Why, we didn't think you'd go for an hour yet. We haven't got our trunks."
Again his companions laughed loudly at the wit of their leader, but as yet not one of them had made any move to leave the boat.
Fred's alarm was plain in spite of the boldness with which he cast off the bow line. Grant already had performed a similar service with the stern line and the boys were now ready to depart.