"That ought to keep 'em away," chuckled Nat. "A little more, and we'll have the bay to ourselves. We're the Pirates of the Bounding Deep, and can fight, awake or asleep."
"Oh, lollipops, whatever that means," groaned Dick. "That floating tub is getting nearer and nearer."
The increasing loudness of the hoarse blasts which sounded at intervals across the water began to have an effect on Nat.
"Got a pocket compass, Somers?" he asked, hurriedly. "Guess we'll have to hike in toward the shore. Wonder how far away it is?"
No one seemed able to offer any information on the subject.
"Great Cæsar!" cried Ted Pollock; "listen to that screech. We can't see a yard. Hi, hi!" he yelled at the top of his voice; "hi, hi, hi!"
The others joined in, while Kirk, with the megaphone, shouted lustily.
The Clair Bay steamers were large and powerful boats, and the peril of their situation began to dawn upon the boys with full force. Whether the oncoming craft was on the starboard or port side could not be determined, as the gray blanket of fog hid everything from view.
"We'll have to get out of this!" cried Nat. "Dave, exercise your lungs on that howl-increaser."
"I'll bet we are steering right for it," exclaimed Kirk.