"Huh!" retorted the captain. "Maybe you will be some day. Most of the fish you got this morning were hooked so that they couldn't have got off the hook. There's a big difference between catching a fish that way, and getting one with just a hook through his lip. It takes some skill then." "All right, captain, just as you say. You show us the right ground and we'll do the rest." "Maybe you will and maybe you won't," retorted the captain as he turned away to prepare dinner for himself and his mate. When afternoon came, the _Gadabout_ took the two skiffs once more in tow and swiftly carried them seven miles farther, where the wonderful ground described by the captain was located. As soon as the anchor was dropped, the skiffs, arranged as in the morning, sought the place where the marvelous fishing was to be had. Apparently the words of the captain were in a measure fulfilled for so busy were the four young fishermen that not one of them was aware of the increasing distance between the boat in which he was fishing and the one which carried his comrades. It was late in the afternoon when Fred suddenly looked up and said, "It's getting late, Jack. We ought to be going back to the boat. I don't see it anywhere, do you?" "You mean the skiff in which Grant and George are fishing?" "Yes." "No, I don't see them," said John slowly, after he had glanced all about him. "I don't see the _Gadabout_ either." "Well, the mate knows where it is," said Fred easily. "I hope the other fellows won't get into any trouble, for there's a storm coming up." As he spoke, Fred pointed to some clouds that rapidly were approaching in the sky directly overhead. They were black, angry clouds too, and the frequent flashes of lightning were followed by reports of thunder that at first had been so low as scarcely to be noticed. Now, however, the sounds were threatening and the oarsman, bidding the two boys reel in their lines at once, began to row swiftly toward the point behind which the _Gadabout_ was anchored. In a few moments, however, the calm waters had become rough. Whitecaps were to be seen all about them and the boys glanced anxiously at each other. The wind too had risen now, but instead of blowing steadily across the waters, it was coming in puffs. "We're in for it, Jack," said Fred anxiously. His companion made no reply, though the frequent glances he cast at the sky indicated that he too was becoming anxious for their safety. "Don't you want me to help?" inquired John as he glanced at the oarsman. The mate shook his head in response and it was plain that he was exerting all his strength in his efforts to keep the boat headed in the direction in which it had started. "There comes the rain," exclaimed John, as some heavy drops fell upon them and the nearby water was becoming more and more disturbed.