"Getting scared, Bobby?"
"Hardly," laughed Bob; "but we can't see a sign of land."
"Never met a fellow who was so set on looking at mud, rocks and trees before. I'm not a bit sorry to vary the program."
"My eye, Somers thinks he's on an automobile1 again," laughed Hackett.
"That's it!" exclaimed Nat, with a grin. "Hi, Dave, are you wide awake enough to wrestle2 with this wheel a minute?"
"I guess so," said Dave, good-naturedly, as he made his way toward the bow.
When the "Nimrod" had left the wharf3, early that morning, a mist hung over the bay. The sun shone like a great, yellowish ball through the masses of vapor4. Not the slightest breeze was stirring, and as the morning wore on, the mist became thicker and thicker until now it was scarcely possible to see more than fifty feet in any direction.
Hoarse5 blasts of fog-horns, shriller whistles from small steam craft, rendered faint by distance, came over the air, while the "Nimrod" slowly ploughed through the colorless water.
"Seems as if we were out of the world," declared Tommy Clifton; "it's almost spooky."
"Just like an air-ship in the clouds," said Pollock.
"Where do you suppose we are?" inquired Dave, straining his eyes to pierce the gloom.
"On top of the water, Dave," laughed Nat.
"Big and little fishes! I don't care for this," grumbled6 Kirk. "There are some whopping big steamers on this bay. Did you hear that?"
A blast from a fog-horn sounded far ahead.
"Better turn in shore," suggested Dick.
"Who's doing this, Travers?" demanded Nat. "Never saw such scared cats, eh, Hacky?"
Pulling out his megaphone, the leader of the Nimrods continued: "Each fellow take a whoop8 through this. Here goes number one!"
An astonishingly discordant9 series of blasts rolled over the water. "Sounds like a wildcat getting hit by John Hackett," laughed Nat. "Here, Somers, let's see what kind of a yell you have. Pass it along. I'll take that wheel.
"Christopher!" he added, a few moments later; "Somers, that screech10 of yours reminds me of a circular saw cutting a board."
"He means when it hits a nail," explained John Hackett.
Bob laughed, and handed the megaphone to Tommy Clifton.
"That ought to keep 'em away," chuckled11 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, lollipops12, whatever that means," groaned13 Dick. "That floating tub is getting nearer and nearer."
The increasing loudness of the hoarse blasts which sounded at intervals14 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 Ted7 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 peril15 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 determined16, 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."
"We are, that's what we are doing!" shouted Tom, in the greatest alarm. "Mind your eye there, Nat!"
A loud blast of the fog-horn threw the lads into a state of panic.
"Look, look! There it is!" shouted Nat, excitedly.
Through the dense18 fog, an indistinct form, gradually taking shape, could be seen approaching. The boys were presently able to distinguish a confused blurr, as passengers crowded to the rails. They heard shouts and calls, the clanging of a bell, then the siren blast of a fog-horn drowned all other sounds.
"My eye, a close call that!" exclaimed Hackett, in excited tones; "not more than fifty feet to spare."
"Isn't it going slowly?" said Sam Randall.
"Hi there!" called out Nat, perceiving that they were not in any danger; "why don't you keep your old tub tied up a day like this?"
"Haven't you any more sense than to be out in the middle of the bay in a little cockle-shell like that?" came an answering voice.
Then the gloom again swallowed up the steamer, while Nat, through the megaphone, sent a long string of compliments after it.
"Great Cæsar, I was scared—that's a fact," admitted Tom Clifton.
"A little more, and they would have plunked us," remarked Ted Pollock, with a great sigh of relief. "Going ashore19, now, Nat?"
"Not before the boat reaches it," returned Wingate, who, judging from his actions, seemed to have profited but little by the recent experience. "Let her out a bit, Hacky. Legs feel weak, Somers? I'll bet they do—never saw such a scared crowd in my life."
The leader of the Nimrods glanced quickly at a map, replaced it in his pocket, then gave the wheel a turn.
"Going further out?" asked Bob, in surprise.
"Who said I was going further out?"
"You changed your course just then."
Nat laughed. "I'm afraid you're beginning to dream," he said.
"We are an awful way out," ventured Ted; "and my dad says the water in the middle of this bay is five hundred feet deep."
"Fog getting thicker and thicker," observed John Hackett. "Keep your eyes open, fellows, for any more boats."
There was no need of this admonition, but time slipped away, without bringing any further incident. Nat Wingate remained at the wheel, keeping the "Nimrod" on a perfectly20 straight course, at the same time talking and laughing in his liveliest fashion.
Suddenly Sam Randall uttered an exclamation21. "Land! As I live, land ho!" he cried.
"Land?" echoed the others, in chorus.
"Your peepers must be pretty good," exclaimed Hackett; "where? I don't see anything."
"That's because you're not looking in the right direction."
"I see it!" cried Bob.
"So do I."
"And I," repeated each, in turn.
Barely perceptible, to the left, through the fog, rose a rounded, tree-covered hill.
"I knew you changed your course, Wingate," said Bob, dryly. "Where have you been heading for?"
Turning, Nat held up the compass, then passed it back to its owner, remarking: "You fellows certainly are green. I've piloted the 'Nimrod' clear across the bay."
"A brilliant piece of navigation," observed John Hackett.
"Shut off power a bit, Kirk," said Nat; "I don't want to run on any shoals."
Talbot obeyed, and the motor boat progressed slowly toward the shore. Finally the boys saw that a sort of flat expanse extended back from the water, but the fog prevented them from gaining a definite idea as to the formation of the land.
"There seems to be a pretty good channel here," observed Dave.
"That's the reason I'm cruising along a bit," returned Nat, quickly.
"No use, fellows, we'll have to anchor and wade24 ashore," said Nat finally; "I can't take the boat in any further."
Accordingly, the boys took off their shoes and stockings and rolled up their trousers. Nat cast the anchor overboard, then, each taking some needful article, they waded25 ashore.
"We'll have a swim here this afternoon," proclaimed Nat; "bet I can beat any fellow in the crowd."
"I'll take you up on that," said Hackett. "My eye, this fog is a nuisance."
By making several trips, the boys carried ashore all that was necessary. The tent canvas and poles required the combined effort of both clubs.
"I guess you fellows will have to do the 'Bill Agnew' act," said Nat. "Little oil-stove's good enough for me."
By this time the fog had begun to lighten. Clumps27 of vegetation were scattered28 around, while several pools could be dimly seen, close at hand.
Dave smiled, then slapped his hand to his face. "Skeeters," he announced; "and plenty of 'em."
"Aren't they fierce?" said John Hackett. "Here's the sun coming out nicely, and we have to fall into a regular bug31 metropolis32."
"Darning-needles and butterflies!" exclaimed Kirk Talbot. "Look at this one! It's nearly as big as the bird that 'Hatchet33' shot."
Bob, Sam and Dick soon went off in search of wood, while Tom Clifton and the poet laureate got everything in readiness to cook. The Nimrods pitched their tents, and also began preparations for lunch. In the course of an hour the meals were ready.
"What's on the bill of fare?" asked Bob.
"Quit your fooling, and trot36 out the stuff," put in Dick; "I haven't had a bite for three solid hours."
"Cricky! a nice place, this," observed Tom Clifton, with his mouth full, a few minutes later. "Let's explore those hills back there after lunch, fellows."
"Hello, how are you getting on, 'pirates'?" shouted Bob.
"Great!" answered Nat. "Got any skeeters over your way?"
"Any number," grumbled Dave; "had forty-seven bites already."
The afternoon was spent in roaming around. The Ramblers found a tumble-down shanty37, evidently built by gunners, and they determined to take possession of it. The fog had entirely38 cleared away and the sun occasionally peeped forth39 between gaps in the masses of whitish clouds. Shadows chased each other over the landscape in rapid succession, trees, now bright with color and light suddenly changed to dark green masses, then all became gray and sombre until another rift40 in the clouds let through the flood of light.
Along the bay, a flat, marshy41 expanse seemed to extend for miles, its surface being dotted with ponds.
"That's where those six-legged little pests come from," declared Dave; "they breed in the swampy42 tracts43. Fellows, it's a good thing we are going to camp in the hills to-night."
"We'd be eaten alive down there by the shore," agreed Bob; then he added: "Let's go and get our stuff now."
As they approached the Trailers' tents, loud voices were heard.
"Fifteen feet, you say? That's the biggest I ever listened to. It wasn't an inch more than five," came from Nat.
"I said fifteen, and I'll bet it was nearer twenty," shouted John Hackett; "ain't that so, Kirk?"
"You'll have to grow some, to beat me any day in the week," yelled the leader; "you didn't give me a fair start."
"I'll do it," cried Nat. "Crickets, but you're going to get beaten. Hello, Somers, got back already?"
"We are going to take our stuff up on the hill," explained Bob.
"That's so," agreed Nat; "I've killed about two million already. Will you fellows help us take up the canvas?"
"Sure thing," answered Bob. "Aren't you afraid to leave your boat, though?"
Nat glanced at the trim little "Nimrod," then answered: "Don't think there's any danger. The fellow who blew up the 'Rambler' most likely thought it was ours."
"That's right, we had everybody scared," added John Hackett, and the recollection made the ill-natured expression leave his face.
Nat burst out laughing. "Pull up stakes!" he cried, loudly. "Here we go."
"Whew, ouch! Never saw such biters," exclaimed Ted Pollock, slapping frantically46 at the little buzzing pests around his face. "Come on, fellows, let's vamoose."
"Big rocks and pine trees! Right you are," observed Kirk scratching his wrist. "Say, Nat, why can't we sleep on the 'Nimrod' to-night?"
"It's up in the hills for us. Don't you get enough boat all day long?"
"But these tents?" objected Kirk.
"Got to go up, too," replied Nat, laconically47. "Get a gait on. Found a good place, Somers?"
"Yes! on the top of that hill."
"All right. Grab some of the stuff, fellows. We'll leave the tents until last."
It was nearly six o'clock before the new camp was finally put in order. The boys found the mosquitoes much fewer in number, and their surroundings in every way better than on the shore below.
"It's a pretty wide bay," observed the poet laureate; "can't see a sign of land. How small the 'Nimrod' looks."
"It ain't as big as the 'Lusitania,' that's sure," commented Nat. "Fall to, fellows. It's grub time."
When night came on, Bob added a few logs to the smouldering fire, while the Nimrods hung a number of lanterns upon convenient branches. The Ramblers merely spread their blankets upon the floor of the shanty, and turned in.
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1
automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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wrestle
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| vi.摔跤，角力；搏斗；全力对付 | |
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wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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vapor
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| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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ted
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| vt.翻晒，撒，撒开 | |
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whoop
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| n.大叫，呐喊，喘息声；v.叫喊，喘息 | |
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discordant
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| adj.不调和的 | |
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screech
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| n./v.尖叫；(发出)刺耳的声音 | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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lollipops
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| n.棒糖，棒棒糖( lollipop的名词复数 )；（用交通指挥牌让车辆暂停以便儿童安全通过马路的）交通纠察 | |
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13
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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14
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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jutting
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| v.（使）突出( jut的现在分词 )；伸出；（从…）突出；高出 | |
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wade
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| v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉 | |
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waded
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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clumps
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| n.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的名词复数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声v.（树、灌木、植物等的）丛、簇( clump的第三人称单数 )；（土、泥等）团；块；笨重的脚步声 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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gee
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| n.马；int.向右！前进！，惊讶时所发声音；v.向右转 | |
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chubby
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| adj.丰满的，圆胖的 | |
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bug
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| n.虫子；故障；窃听器；vt.纠缠；装窃听器 | |
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metropolis
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| n.首府；大城市 | |
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hatchet
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| n.短柄小斧；v.扼杀 | |
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sardines
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| n. 沙丁鱼 | |
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crackers
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| adj.精神错乱的，癫狂的n.爆竹( cracker的名词复数 )；薄脆饼干；（认为）十分愉快的事；迷人的姑娘 | |
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trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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shanty
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| n.小屋，棚屋；船工号子 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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rift
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| n.裂口，隙缝，切口；v.裂开，割开，渗入 | |
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marshy
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| adj.沼泽的 | |
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swampy
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| adj.沼泽的，湿地的 | |
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tracts
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| 大片土地( tract的名词复数 )； 地带； （体内的）道； （尤指宣扬宗教、伦理或政治的）短文 | |
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sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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laconically
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| adv.简短地，简洁地 | |
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