sinking with a motion that made the lads feel as though their stomachs were going to drop out.
Fortunately they were not seasick, for they were too used to the water at home, and had been in some rough weather before. So they were accustomed to the irregular motion. But it was not the more pleasant on this account.
Again the Skip would be blown around with her head to the wind and waves, and at such times she would rise on the crest of a big roller until, it seemed to the boys, as if she were going to shoot toward the sky.
Then the boat would slip down on the other side of the big hill of water like a sled coasting down a snowy incline and the boys would look at each other as though they feared they were going to the bottom of the sea.
But always the stanch little Skip would come up again.
"She sure is a dandy boat!" exclaimed Bob, and the others agreed with him.
It was now about eight o'clock and quite dark. The storm still rumbled and rolled about the boys, but they were getting used to it now.
"It's dying out," said Frank, as he put on some of his clothes that had dried by the oil stove.
"Yes, by morning it will be calm again," said Sammy.
"If we could only get home by morning," spoke Bob, a bit sadly, and, in spite of his resolution to be brave, he could not keep a few tears from his eyes as he thought of his mother, who, he knew, would be frantic about him.
"Don't worry," said Frank, soothingly, for he guessed of what Bob was thinking. "Silas will go there and tell your folks all about it, Bob. Then he'll organize a searching party, and come after us in a big boat."
"Yes, if he can find us," said Bob, gloomily.
"Oh, sure he can find us!" exclaimed Sammy.
