anyhow. Dave want plenty sleep."

"You slept like a top for six hours last night!" declared Alec.

"No-o; Dave watch, saw steamer,---no more sleep, no forty winks."

"Oh, come!" laughed Billy. "I heard you snoring, Dave; you woke me
up! I thought it was thunder!"

"Nothing less than thunder or a cannon firecracker would wake you up,
Billy,---as a general rule," said Hugh, flinging one arm over his
chum's shoulders and giving him a vigorous hug.

"Look yonder, boys!" shouted Captain Vinton at the helm. He pointed
aft, and the four lads sprang to their feet and hurried toward him,
alert and eager for a new surprise.

Some distance behind them, toward the mainland, a thin trail of
smoke which had not been seen for two or three hours was now visible
inside the keys. Could there be any reason for the reappearance
of that smoky blur against the sky? Was it made by the mysterious
steamer? If so, was she following the _Arrow_?

"By the shades o' shad, I orter know that boat!" exclaimed Vinton in
puzzled chagrin. "See? She's coaled up, goin' for all she's worth.
Alec, git out my glass from the cabin, take a look, and see if there's
many men aboard."

Alec ran to do the captain's bidding. Descending into the cabin, he
took from a locker an old-style marine telescope with which he