And now, as they looked, the white, phosphorescent glow grew brighter, and then whiter, like snow; every minute it approached nearer, until at last, full before them and beneath them, there rolled a giant wave, extending across the bed of the river, crescent-shaped, with its convex side advancing forwards, and its ends following after within short distance from the shore. The great wave rolled on, one mass of snow-white foam, behind which gleamed a broad line of phosphorescent lustre from the agitated waters, which, in the gloom of night, had a certain baleful radiance. As it passed on its path, the roar came up more majestically from the foremost wave; and behind that came the roar of other billows that followed in its wake. By daylight the scene would have been grand and impressive; but now, amid the gloom, the grandeur became indescribable. The force of those mighty waters seemed indeed resistless, and it was with a feeling of relief that the boys reflected that the schooner was out of the reach of its sweep. Its passage was swift, and soon it had passed beyond them; and afar up the river, long after it had passed from sight, they heard the distant thunder of its mighty march. By the time the wave had passed, the boys found themselves excessively weary with their long wakefulness. "Bart, my boy," said Bruce, "we must get some rest, or we won't be worth anything to-morrow. What do you say? Shall we go back to Mrs. Watson's?" "It's too late--isn't it?" "Well, it's pretty late, no doubt. I dare say it's half past two; but that's all the more reason why we should go to bed." "Well." "What do you say? Do you think we had better disturb Mrs. Watson, or not?" "O, no; let's go into the barn, and lie down in the hay." "Very well. Hay makes a capital bed. For my part, I could sleep on stones." "So could I." "I'm determined to hope for the best about Tom," said Bruce, rising and walking off, followed by Bart. "Mrs. Watson was right. There's no use letting ourselves be downcast by a lot of croakers--is there?" "No," said Bart. The boys then walked on, and in a few minutes reached the ship-yard. Here a man came up to them. "We've been looking for you everywhere," said the man. "Mrs. Watson is anxious about you." "Mrs. Watson?" "Yes. She won't go to bed till you get back to the house. There's another man out for you, up the river." "O, I'm sorry we have given you all so much trouble," said Bart; "but we didn't think that anybody would bother themselves about us." "Well, you don't know Mrs. Watson that's all," said the man, walking along with them. "She's been a worrytin herself to death about you; and the sooner she sees you, the better for her and for you."