Thus the remainder of the day passed without anything to reward them except the general excitement which had been produced among them. It would be many hours yet before they could get afloat, and they amused themselves by making fires at the foot of the bank. A modest and frugal repast of brown biscuit and pork, washed down with cold water, concluded the day. For some time longer they sat round the fire, until, at last, excessive weariness overcame them. Then they went on board the schooner, and retired to bed. Some time after midnight the Antelope was afloat again. None of her passengers waked. She moved away from the shore without accident. Morning came, and she had not yet reached her destination. The wind had been unfavorable, and she had lost that tide. As she could not anchor, Captain Corbet had run her ashore. They had to wait patiently, and get off at midday, with the rising tide; after which they resumed their voyage, and in three hours more they were in Captain Pratt’s house. Of the five boys who had been left behind, one was not visible, and the other four met them with pale, woe-begone faces. They showed no joy at seeing the return of the wanderers; no curiosity to learn what they had been doing; and even the sight of the jaw of the “shovel-mouth shark” produced upon them no effect whatever. It was seen that something had happened, and the unhappy four were closely cross-questioned. At first they refused to answer. At last, on being pressed, they confessed that they had all been poisoned. “Poisoned!” cried Bart, in horror. “How was that?” “_Clams!!!_” said Jiggins. “Yes, clams!” said all the others. “Clams?” cried Bart. “What rubbish! How could clams poison you! Pooh!” “Ah, you don’t know,” said Jiggins. “You ask Mrs. Pratt. Haven’t you heard the old saying,” he continued, with an air of peculiar solemnity; “the old saying, that they have about these shores:” “’ In the months without the “R,” Clams and oysters poison are?’” “Never heard it,” said Bart; “and I don’t believe it. I’ve eaten lots of oysters in May myself.” Jiggins shook his head. “Never do it again,” said he. “Do you mean to say that it was clams that upset you so?” “Clams, and clams alone,” said Jiggins. “We owe our lives to Mrs. Pratt. She’s been a mother to us.” “Why! What do you mean?” “You see we had a stew. Pat ate them raw, and fell down in horrible agonies. The torments which he suffered were so excruciating that he had to be carried to the house, and went nearly mad with pain. Mrs. Pratt attended him, and as soon as he was easier she took us in hand. We had eaten after Pat, and our pains had not yet begun. Mrs. Pratt got out all her medicines, and tried them on us one after the other.” “What! not all! not _all_ her medicines!”