"Never mind, Jack," said Fred, his friendliness returning and manifesting itself in the tones of his voice. "Things aren't so bad, and they might be a good deal worse. I guess the _Gadabout_ is off yonder," he added, pointing to the East as he spoke. "I'll row a while in that direction and we'll try it again." Seating himself at the oars Fred pulled in the direction he had suggested. When several minutes had elapsed, once more he ceased rowing and both boys united in a hail. Still there was no response made to their calls and the spirits of the boys drooped accordingly. "I tell you this is getting serious," said Fred. "Are you afraid?" demanded John. "Some, and I don't mind saying so. We never ought to have left the _Gadabout_." "That may all be true," responded John, "but we did leave the _Gadabout_ and we are here on the lake. The only thing for us to do is to go ahead." "That's all right," said Fred more cheerfully. "I haven't forgotten our name, but I'm wondering whether we really are going ahead or not." "What do you mean?" "Why, we may be rowing around in a circle, the way a man travels when he is lost in a woods." "I guess it is not quite as bad as that," responded John. "Want me to take the oars?" "Not yet," said Fred sturdily, once more seating himself and resuming his task. A half-dozen times the boys rowed ahead and then stopping, united in a call to their friends. Their call, however, was unanswered and at last both boys were convinced that they had lost the location of the motor-boat. "There isn't anything for us to do except to wait until morning," said Fred at last. "Yes, there is, too," said John. "You let me take those oars. I'm not going to stay here. I'm sure we'll find the _Gadabout_ or something just as good." "That doesn't trouble me as much as somebody finding us." "What do you mean?" "Why, suppose some boat runs us down in the dark?" "We can hear a boat two miles away." "If we are awake," suggested Fred. "We'll be awake all right, at least I shall, for I'm going to keep rowing." "That wouldn't be my plan," said Fred, nevertheless relinquishing his position to his friend. "I think we are just as well off to wait where we are and when the sun rises we'll know better what to do." "I'm not much for waiting," said John. "I'm going to see if I can't find that boat." Several times John ceased rowing and the boys united in calls and shouts and finally joined in a shrill whistle. Their efforts, however, were still unavailing and the conviction steadily deepened in their minds that they were lost on Lake Huron. "If we stay where we are," suggested Fred at last, "we can get back to Mackinac Island in the morning." "In which direction do you think Mackinac Island is?" demanded John. "It's off yonder," said Fred, pointing to his right. "You're dead wrong, Fred. It's right off here," affirmed John, pointing as he spoke in the direction opposite to that which Fred had selected.