“I guess it was quite as much our fault as theirs. Yell if you see anything, Kendall.” “Not a thing yet, Gerald. That bell’s getting pretty near, though.” “That’s what I think,” responded Gerald, peering ahead. “I wonder where the dickens we are. It would be a joke on us if we found ourselves down near New London somewhere. Perhaps that bell’s on some lighthouse, fellows. Guess not, though; it doesn’t sound like it. Well, we’ll soon find out. Hello――――” “What?” asked Harry, working another groan from the horn. “I thought I saw something ahead there, but it’s gone now. Did you see anything, Kendall?” “N-no, I don’t think so. Sometimes the fog sort of thickens and you think you see things like shadows.” And then the bell, which had not sounded for a minute, clanged again and Gerald snatched at a lever, for it seemed almost at their bow. And as _The Dart_ slid through the water silently, with diminishing speed, something took shape in the fog ahead of them. “Land!” exclaimed Harry. “It’s a boat!” called Kendall. “Straight ahead of us, Gerald. You’d better stop.” Gerald reversed the propeller, _The Dart_ churned the water at her stern and quivered as she began to back. By this time they could see the amidship section of a white vessel. Gerald raised his voice as the bell clanged its two notes once more. “Ahoy there!” “Ahoy!” answered a voice startlingly near. “We’ve lost our bearings. How far is the shore?” “About three hundred feet.” “Oh! Well, where are we?” “Pretty nigh off the mouth of the Wissining River. Where do you want to get to?” “Wissining River! Then――then what boat’s that?” “Steam yacht _Princess_, New York, at anchor.” “Why, that――――” began Harry excitedly. “S-sh!” cautioned Gerald. Then, “Thank you,” he called to the invisible informant. “We’re all right then.” Very cautiously _The Dart_ circled away and made a detour of the yacht’s bow. “I didn’t want him to see us,” said Gerald with a chuckle. “He might have recognized the launch and told Dad some time. That was Purdy, the steward. Keep your eyes peeled, Kendall, and watch for the pier.” A few minutes later _The Dart_ was snuggled up to the float, the lines were made fast and the three boys were stumbling up the gangplank with their blankets flapping around them and their wet clothing in their arms. The fog seemed less heavy on shore, but it was still so thick that they almost reached the house before they saw it. Gerald led the way around to a side entrance, from which, treading softly and giggling as they went, they climbed to Gerald’s room without being seen. One after another they took possession of the bath-tub and then scrambled for the dry clothing that Gerald provided. The garments didn’t fit very well, but they answered the purpose. When a maid arrived in response to Gerald’s ring she was sworn to silence and given the wet clothing. “Put them where they’ll dry in a hurry,” said Gerald. “Has Father returned yet?”