It was an hour after the time we had expected to be back at Parkhurst, and we were not yet clear of Shargle. The same thought evidently crossed the minds of the other three, for they all glanced in the direction of Raven Cliff, now scarcely visible through the heavy rain. "I wish we were safe home," muttered Hutton, the most dispirited of our crew. "What fools we were to come!" We said nothing, but pulled away doggedly at the oars. Now it really seemed as if we were making some progress out of that wretched current, for the white cottage on the cliff appeared farther astern than it had done since we began to row, and we were beginning to congratulate ourselves on our success, when Hall, who had for some time been anxiously watching the shore, cried out-- "For goodness' sake pull hard, you fellows! we are drifting in fast. Here, Charlie, take the helm, and keep her the way she is, while I get down the sail. It's no use now. Mind your heads, but don't stop rowing," he shouted to us, as he let down the sail suddenly, and lowered the mast. "Keep her head out, Charlie, whatever you do. Let go that rope beside you. That's right. Now take hold of that end of the mast and slip it under the seat." So saying he managed to get down the mast and stow it away without impeding either the rowing or the steering, and immediately the advantage of the step was manifest in the steadier motion of the boat, although we groaned inwardly at the thought of having now all the distance to row. At least I groaned inwardly. Hutton was hardly as reserved. "I tell you what," he said to me, stopping rowing, "I don't know what you and the other fellows intend to do, but I can't row any more. I've been at it an hour together." "What are we to do, then?" inquired I. "Why shouldn't Hall take a turn? He's been doing nothing." "He's been steering," replied I, "and he's the only fellow who knows how, and Charlie's not strong enough to row." "Well, all I can say is, I don't mean to row any longer." All this had been said in an undertone to me, but now Hall cried out-- "What are you shopping for, Hutton? Pull away, man, or we shall never get out of this." "Pull away yourself!" said Hutton sulkily. "I've had enough of it. You brought us here, you'd better take us back!" Hall's face at that moment was a study. I fancy if this had been a ship and he the skipper, he would not have hesitated an instant how to deal with this unexpected contingency. But now he did hesitate. It was bitter enough punishment to him to be there exposed to all the dangers of a sudden storm, with the safety, and perhaps the life, not only of himself, but of us whom he had induced to accompany him, on his hands; but to have one of those comrades turn against him in the moment of peril was more than he had looked for. "I'll take an oar," said Charlie, before there was time to say anything.