The skiff in which their friends had been seen was in tow and soon after it was discovered both Grant and George were seen in the bow of the swift little motor-boat. "That's good. That's a relief," said John when he was convinced that his friends were on board. "Probably they feel the same way now that they have seen us." "We'll know about that very soon." CHAPTER V A PERPLEXING LETTER It was decided to leave behind them the skiff that had been wrecked and as the boys ran down to the shore they saw that the beautiful little boat had been drawn up on the land. "That can be fixed all right," said the mate in response to the question of the boys. "The frame's all good." Neither of the boys, however, heard his words as they both climbed into the skiff, which Grant had rowed ashore. "Where were you, fellows?" he asked as he grasped the oars and headed the little boat once more for the _Gadabout_. "We went ashore. The mate just let us drive before the wind. We couldn't do anything against it." "Yes," added Fred. "We stove in the boat when we tried to land. The waves were a million feet high." "How high?" laughed John. "Well, they were pretty nearly ten feet anyway." "That's about as near as you get to things, isn't it?" remarked John. "Well, you know what I mean." "I don't care what you mean as long as you're both safe. The captain was afraid you might capsize." "You mean he was afraid we would be capsized," retorted Fred. "May be that was it. At all events he was afraid you would go into the water and he knew you couldn't take care of yourselves if you did." "Hello," exclaimed John abruptly. "Here comes our recent host. I wonder what he wants now." As he spoke John pointed toward the shore from which the man in whose house they recently found refuge was seen approaching in a skiff. Just where his boat had been kept was not plain to either of the boys. There was no boathouse on the shore and few places where the craft might have been sheltered. "I guess he has forgotten something," laughed Fred, "or he's after us. John, did you take anything from the table when you left the house?" "Nothing except what I had already taken inside," retorted John. In response to the call of the man the departing _Gadabout_ was delayed until he came alongside. There was a whispered conversation between him and the captain, which lasted only a few minutes. What was said could not be heard by the boys, although John was really trying to discover what the subject of the conversation was, at the same time doing his utmost to appear indifferent. Fred, who understood the peculiarities of his companion, laughed silently as he saw John's actions and shook his head warningly.