"I don't believe anything very serious can happen to them even if they have lost their way," said George, striving to speak with an assurance he did not fully share. "Even if they stay out there until morning," he continued, "they wouldn't have anything to be afraid of. And then they would be able to find somebody that would pick them up and take them back to Mackinac. Very likely we'll find them there when we get back ourselves." "But suppose a storm comes up," suggested Grant. "Well, don't begin to worry until the wind begins to blow," said George testily. The fear of the same event was in his own mind, but he resented the suggestion of his companion. "I think it is about time for us to be getting worried about ourselves," said George at last, when the first faint streaks of the dawn were seen in the eastern sky. "Fred and John at least can be moving while we are here as helpless as a rat in a trap." "What do you make of him?" inquired Grant in a whisper, nodding toward Mr. Button as he spoke. He was still seated near the wheel and had given but slight attention to his companions. Evidently he was anxious concerning something, though what it was that disturbed him was still not clear to his two young companions. "What do you think, Mr. Button?" called George. "What's become of the boys?" "Huh! What's that you say?" inquired Mr. Button, sitting quickly erect. "What do you think has become of Jack and Fred?" "I don't know," replied Mr. Button vaguely. "Where did they go?" "Why, they left in the skiff," explained Grant. "They have been gone three or four hours anyway." "Why don't they come back?" inquired Mr. Button. "That's what we want to know. We're afraid they are lost." "Well, they won't be lost very long," said Mr. Button. "Somebody will pick them up and take them back to Mackinac Island. That isn't more than forty miles away anyhow." "Well, we're afraid somebody may not find them," said Grant. "We don't see any boats anywhere around here." As he spoke the boy stood erect and looked in all directions over the smooth waters of Lake Huron. As was the case with Fred and John the only indications of boats anywhere in the vicinity were the long low trails of smoke that could be seen far in the west. "How are we going to get back, Mr. Button?" inquired George. "I don't know," replied Mr. Button. "I think we'll have to wait for somebody to pick us up." "But there isn't any boat anywhere around here," protested Grant. "There may be before night," said Mr. Button quietly. "And besides we cannot do anything to call any one." "We might try yelling together," suggested George. Mr. Button smiled, but made no response. "If we had some oars or a little sail we might do something," suggested Grant. "I'm going to look around and see if there isn't a sail on board anywhere." His search was unrewarded, however, and at last when Grant returned it was agreed that their only hope was in being recognized by some passing vessel.