not, he had such a way of looking very solemn, even while chuckling
inwardly.

"I don't count much on his knowledge of telling in the morning what sort
of a day it's going to be," replied the other, with a shake of the head;
"but what he says about those clouds is as near facts as Giraffe ever
gets."

"Then there is a storm bound to swoop down on us?" demanded Bumpus, as
he cast a nervous glance around at the watery expanse; for they were far
out on the lake.

"I'm afraid we'll have a rough night of it," Thad confessed; "but if
we're only safe in a harbor by evening, we won't need to bother our
heads any about that."

"Then we won't have any trouble about making that safe harbor, will we?"
continued Bumpus, who could be very positive and persistent whenever he
wanted to know anything, so that it was a difficult thing to shunt him
aside.

"If the engine holds out we ought to be there by five, I expect," Thad
answered.

Bumpus transferred his attention to the working motor; and his look of
anxiety increased.

"Seems to me you've been pottering more'n a little with that thing today,
Thad," he went on to say.