"What do you say, Joe?"
"The Sound can't be any wetter than the South Bay, so I'm in favor of trying it," replied Joe.
"Then we'll consider it settled that we sail to the end of Shinnecock Bay, and then go to Canoe Place and cross over to Peconic Bay. Slack those peak halyards a little, will you, Tom. If this squall lasts, we shall have to put in a reef."
The wind was now blowing so fresh that in almost any other circumstances the young Captain would have reefed the mainsail, but he was in constant expectation of reaching the shore. The long swell which gently rocked the boat was very unlike the short swells of the Great South Bay. "There's something very strange about this," said Charley. "We must have sailed at least ten miles, and the bay is only ten miles long. Why haven't we struck the shore?"
"How long ago was the chart made?" inquired Tom.
"I've had it—or rather father has had it—over three years," said Harry.
"An inlet may have opened into Shinnecock Bay since that chart was made," said Tom. "New inlets do open into these bays in winter storms, for I've read of such things in the newspaper."
"Try if you can touch bottom with an oar. I'm pretty sure you can't," said Charley.
Tom tried, but could find no bottom.
"Then, boys, we'll haul down the mainsail and jib, and let her drift for a while."