"I know we are not very far from the shore," declared Mr. Button, "but it isn't the shore of the mainland." "What is it?" demanded George. "Western Duck Island. I'm sure we cannot be far away from it. Now, if two of you boys want to take the skiff and make some investigations I don't think there will be any special danger. Don't go too far away, though your whistle or your voices will carry a long distance over the water." "I'm one of the Go Ahead Boys, and I'm for trying it," said Fred sturdily. "And I'm with you," said John. A moment afterward both boys stepped on board the skiff and with John at the oars and Fred seated in the stern, they speedily left the _Gadabout_ behind them. "Don't go very far away," called George warningly. "You're right, we won't," called back John, and then silence rested over the waters of Lake Huron. "We had better row in a circle," suggested Fred. "I'm the captain of this expedition and I want you to follow my directions." "All right, sir," responded John glibly, "but the main thing is to keep a sharp outlook for a boat coming or going, or for any light that we may see on the shore." For a time John rowed forward in silence. Both boys were keenly observant, but they were unable to discover any trace of the shore, nor were any lights of passing vessels seen on the water. "I think we have gone about far enough," suggested Fred, when a half-hour or more had elapsed. "So do I," answered John. "Better let me row back," said Fred. "That's all right, too," responded John. The boys exchanged places and Fred rowed more rapidly on their return than his companion had done on their advance. Several minutes elapsed and then John said in a low voice, "It's strange we don't see anything of the _Gadabout_. I thought that we were headed right for it." "So did I," answered Fred. "We had better call." John placed his hands about his mouth and shouted: "Ahoy, there! Is this the _Gadabout_?" He repeated his hail several times, but as no answering shout was heard, he again hailed the invisible motor-boat. Still no response was given to his call. "Maybe we had better shout together. Two can make more noise than one," suggested Fred, rising from his seat as he spoke. "Now, then," he added, "when I say three, let's yell together." But though the boys united a half-dozen times in their shouts, the silence of the night was still unbroken and no signs of the presence of the _Gadabout_ were seen. CHAPTER XII THE SEARCH IN THE NIGHT "This is becoming pretty serious," said Fred in a low voice when both he and John were convinced that they were not near the missing _Gadabout_. "You went too far to the right," retorted John. "I thought you were going in the wrong direction." "Well, why didn't you say so, then?" "If I had, I would have been told my advice was good when it was asked for."