Half past twelve found the _Barracouta_ again at her mooring in Sprowl's Cove. Throppy and Filippo were landed, with instructions to haul the lobster-traps the next morning if the fog would allow them to do it safely. Without waiting for dinner, Jim, Budge, and Percy started in the sloop for Rockland to dispose of their catch. They had no ice, so it was necessary to get the two swordfish to market as soon as possible. "Thicker 'n a dungeon, isn't it?" said Jim as they rounded Brimstone Point and headed northwest into the fog. "Lucky we've got a good compass! Without it we wouldn't stand the ghost of a show of getting to Rockland. We'd pile up on some ledge before we'd gone half-way." Shaping their course carefully by the chart, and keeping on the alert to avoid passing vessels and steamers, they drove the _Barracouta_ at top speed. Ten miles from Tarpaulin the increased height of the ocean swells told that they were crossing the shoal rocky ground of Snippershan. Five miles farther on they left behind the clanging bell on Bay Ledge and soon passed the red whistler south of Hurricane. A straight course from this brought them at five o'clock to the bell east of Monroe's Island, and before six they were alongside the steamboat wharf at Rockland. "Look out for her, boys!" directed Jim. "I want to get up-town before the markets close." He landed, and started on the run for Main Street. In twenty-five minutes he was back. "Sold 'em!" he announced. "Sixty dollars!" A little later an express-wagon with two men drove down on the wharf. The swordfish were hoisted from the _Barracouta_, the agreed price paid, and the team hurried away. "Not a bad day's work," said Budge. "Fair! Now let's go somewhere and get a good supper!" They found a restaurant on Main Street, unpretentious but clean, and sat down at one of its small tables. Two months ago Percy would have turned up his nose at the idea of eating in such a place; now he looked forward to a meal there with eager anticipation. Jim winked at him, then scanned the bill of fare, and turned to Budge. "What'll you have, Roger?" he asked. "I see they've some nice fish here." "Fish!" almost screamed Lane. "Not on your life! I've eaten so much fish the last two months that I'm ashamed to look a hake or haddock in the face. None for mine! Beefsteak and onions are good enough for me." Jim glanced at Percy. Percy nodded. "Three of the same," said Jim to the waiter. They starved until the viands came on, then turned to. Fifteen minutes later the three orders were duplicated and despatched without undue delay. "Try it again, Budge?" "I'd like to," returned Lane, truthfully, "but I can't." Jim broke a five-dollar bill at the cashier's desk, and they filed out. "Sorry Throppy and Filippo aren't with us," said Percy. "So am I; but we'll even it up with 'em somehow, later."