"Paula Benjamin is a splendid girl," said Frank, "and you are stuck on her yourself, Browning. Jealousy is what ails you." The big fellow flopped over in his berth with remarkable suddenness, his face becoming wonderfully red. "Now, look here, Merriwell," he exclaimed, "that won't go down with this crowd. You all know I don't care a rap about girls, and----" "Vot made you got so red aroundt der gills, Pruce?" chuckled Hans. "Dot peen a deadt gife avay." Jack was glad the tables were turned, and he joined in the general laugh. "Oh, go to thunder, the whole of you!" roared Browning, as he again flopped over in his berth. "What would we do with the girls?" asked Hodge. "We have not sufficient room on the boat to accommodate them here, and----" "There must be some sort of a hotel at Green's Landing," said Diamond, quickly. "Of course, Miss Gale, Inza's aunt, would go along as chaperon." "Well, it would be a change from Bar Harbor," said Frank. "This place is too much like all other fashionable seaside resorts to suit me, and still I do not feel like running away and leaving the girls. They would think it a mean trick if we were to do so so soon." "Perhaps they won't go," said Hodge, who did not seem much in favor of the project. "Well, we can ask them," spoke up Diamond, quickly. "I am to see Inza this evening, and I'll find out about it," said Frank. "If they can go, we want to get away bright and early to-morrow, providing there is a breeze." CHAPTER XVII. THE MAN WHO SAW THE MONSTER. The girls gladly welcomed the plan, for they felt there would be much pleasure in a cruise among the islands of the bay. At first, however, Miss Gale was opposed to it, but Frank won her over, as Inza felt certain he could. So the next morning the girls appeared on the pier at an early hour, accompanied by the stern-faced but kind-hearted old maid, having been brought down from the hotel by a carriage. The boys were on the watch for them, and a boat, containing Frank and Jack, pushed off from the _White Wings_ immediately. The girls, the chaperon, the baggage--all were taken into the boat and soon set aboard the yacht. Half an hour later, with all sails set, the _White Wings_ was running out to round the end of the breakwater. With favorable wind and conditions, it is just a delightful half-day's cruise from Bar Harbor to Green's Landing. Off Southwest Harbor the wind proved something of a gale, as nothing in the shape of land lay between them and the open ocean, from which the wind swept in powerfully. Although the yacht buried her starboard rail at times and fairly hissed through the water, Frank did not take a reef in a single sail, for there were no squalls, and, "corinthian" though he was, he was gaining confidence in his ability to handle the _White Wings_.