"Yes, just when we ought to make a grand burst of speed, too," said
Jerry.

"You forget that the sun is low, and evening close at hand," replied
Frank,

"Tell me about that, and what it has to do with us. I'm a greeny when it
comes to running a motor-boat."

"Oh, the boat has little to do with it; but please remember that the Gulf
of Mexico is a larger affair than Camalot Lake. In fact, it means the
ocean, with all that implies. Suppose we were caught off-shore the very
first night with no place to go?"

"That would be tough, for a fact. I think I see what you mean, Frank.
We'll anchor in the mouth of the river to-night--is that it?" continued
Jerry.

"Just what I wanted to say. Then in the morning, after we have studied
our gulf chart, we can lay out our day's work, if the wind is favorable."

"Wind! Why, we can go whether it blows or not!" ejaculated Will, who had
already taken a snapshot of the picture presented by the open water
beyond the island in the mouth of the river.

"Particularly when not. If anything of a south wind is on, the waves are
apt to stagger such a little boat as this."

Frank had kept his eyes about him while he talked. He now brought the