"Easy there! No need for artificial respiration or barrel-rolling just yet," declared Jack. "In fact, if we had a bit of water, we'd be thankful. Let me work the engine, Ed. Maybe I can give luck a turn and get more push out of it." Ed left his place, and Jack took it, but the sand bar held the little launch like adamant, and it seemed useless to exert the gasoline power further. "Suppose we have the little ditty again," suggested Ed, taking a seat near Cora. "What was it? 'Love's Latitude?'" "No, 'Love's Luxury,'" asserted Walter, as he made a comical move toward Belle. But Belle was disconsolate, and she only looked at the moon. It was almost funny, but the humor was entirely lost on the frightened girl. "When in doubt play 'The Gypsy's Warning,'" suggested Cora, picking up her guitar. "There is something bewitching about that tune." "See if we can bewitch a wave or two with it," remarked Jack. "That would fetch us in a little nearer to shore." But the situation was becoming more serious each moment. There they were--high though not exactly dry upon a big sand bar! Not a craft was in sight, and none within call! "If we only could trust the bottom, we fellows might get out and push her off," suggested Walter, "but it wouldn't be nice to get right in the line with Davy Jones' locker." "Oh, please don't do that," begged Bess. "It will be better to stay safely here and wait for the tide than to take any chance of losing----" "Wallie. Sometimes he's Walter, but when it comes to the possibility of our losing him, he's Wallie," declared Jack, clasping his arms around the other boy's neck. "Starboard watch ahoy!" "Right about face, forward march!" called Walter ridiculously. "That's not the same set," corrected Jack. "This was another kind of a watch--stem winder." The jollying of the boys kept the girls from actually feeling the seriousness of their plight. But to wait until morning for the tide! CHAPTER IV TO THE RESCUE "Don't tell the girls, but I am going to swim ashore," whispered Walter to Jack. "A nice fix we would be in if Mrs. Robinson came home and found the girls missing." "Swim ashore!" repeated Jack in surprise. "Why, Walter, it's a mile!" "Can't help it. I can do it, and I see a light directly opposite here. You give Ed the tip to keep the girls busy, while you stay back here with me. I'll be overboard in no time." Jack tried to persuade his friend not to take the risk, but Walter was determined; so, unobservedly divesting himself of his heaviest garments, he dropped over the side of the launch and was soon stroking for the shore. For some time the girls did not miss him, but Belle, keen to scent danger, abruptly asked if Walter had fallen asleep. "Yes," drawled Jack, "he is the laziest fellow." Cora pinched Jack's arm, and he in return gave her two firm impressions. She instantly knew that something was going on, and did her best to divert Belle's attention from it.