pilot rules require us to keep a fog signal sounding once every minute.
We had hard enough work to convince the United States Inspectors that
the Klaxon would make a perfectly good fog signal. Let's not fall down
now on the job of keeping it going."

"I'd hate like everything to have a collision!"

"So would we all!" declared the first speaker.

Four boys were standing in the pilot house of a sturdily built and
splendidly equipped motor boat that was being rolled and tossed by the,
waves driven from the Gulf of Mexico before a southerly wind. Great
banks of fog were rolling inland before the wind--fog so thick it was
scarcely possible to see a boat's length ahead.

The boys were all dressed in suits of oil skins under which might have
been seen neat khaki Boy Scout Uniforms. If their jackets had been
exposed one might have distinguished medals that betokened membership in
the Beaver Patrol, Boy Scouts of America. Other insignia indicated to
the initiated that the boys had won distinction and were entitled to the
honors in Seamanship, Life Saving, Stalking and Signaling. On the jacket
of the one addressed as "Jack" were insignia that betokened his rank as
Scout Master and also as Star Scout. These had been won by sheer merit.

All four were manly young fellows of about seventeen and, though young,
their faces gave evidence of alert natures thoroughly reliable and ready
for any emergency.

Their vessel, the Fortuna, appeared fully equal to any task that might
be expected of her. Trimly built and graceful, yet solidly and staunchly