"Wreck!" muttered Bumpus, as though talking to himself, as he often did
when in trouble. "Didn't I dream I was on a ship that went to pieces in
storm; and first thing I knew I had to swim for it, and me knowing so
little about doing that. Oh! I hope nothing happens, and that we ran
swing around back of that bully old island soon!"

"So say we all of us, Bumpus," Giraffe echoed; and he did not mean to
draw the attention of the others to the shaky condition of the fat
scout, because, if the truth were told, every one of the six boys would
be found to be quivering with the dreadful suspense, while waiting for
that forerunner of the squall to strike them.

The engine still continued to keep them moving, although to the excited
imagination of some of the boys they seemed to be almost standing still.

"What do you think of it now, Thad?" asked Step Hen, with the manner of
one who hoped for good tidings, yet feared the worst.

"I don't just like the looks of that first rush of wind," replied the
pilot; "of course if we pull through that we may be able to hold out,
and gradually force a way around the island. I'm trying to head as near
as I dare, because if once we're forced past, there's nothing left for
us, you understand?"

Yes, they could grasp that point well enough, and Step Hen even besought
the one at the wheel to work in a little closer.

"Better take the chances of being thrown on the island than to be
carried past by a fluke of the wind!" he declared, and Thad believed so