“By Jove!” cried Bruce, “that was a pretty narrow scratch we had of it on those rocks. After this, Bart, I’ll always brag on you. You’ve saved our lives, Bart. I thought we were gone for it. I never saw anything done so splendidly.” For a moment Bart was silent. Here was a chance for fame. He might avail himself of the lucky accident, and turn it to his own glory. But the thought was only a passing one. It was at once dismissed. “No, boys,” said he; “the only thing I did was nearly to destroy your lives. In fact, I don’t know any more about sailing a vessel than any of you. It’s been a very narrow escape. I was a fool to try it; and I can only make amends by confessing it. I don’t believe in being a humbug, and I won’t be one any longer.” At first the boys wouldn’t believe him, but after a while he explained all about it. After this confession, Bart was as much esteemed by his friends as ever. XIV. _In Mud and Water.--A Sea Monster.--A terrific Fight.--Wonderful Pluck of the “B. O. W. C.”--Swallowing a Sculpin.--The Trophy.--Waiting for Deliverance._ FINDING themselves thus fixed in the mud, they looked around to see the place at which they had thus unexpectedly arrived. In front of them was a bank about sixty feet high, which extended for some miles away, commencing with the rocky headland, and covered with trees on the top; while beyond this, the country rose into hills. As far as they could see, there was no opening in the shore to indicate the presence of a cove or a harbor. From the appearance of the water, it seemed as though the mud flat extended for miles along the shore. The water was comparatively smooth, and the headland kept off the wind, so that after they had lowered the sails, the schooner remained quite still. It was now about noon, and they knew that the tide was rising. A wide space of the mud flat lay still uncovered by the water. Their position was a safe one as yet, though not at all pleasant on many accounts. “The tide’s rising,” said Phil; “isn’t it, Bart?” “Yes.” “When will it be high tide?” “About three.” “I wonder if they’ll come after us.” “Of course they will.” “There doesn’t seem to be much chance of our getting ashore.” “Well, it doesn’t make much difference, for we couldn’t do anything if we did get there.” “I say, boys,” said Arthur, “the schooner’s beginning to float again.” All stood waiting in silence, and in a few moments they felt a slight motion. “Yes,” said Bruce, “the tide has risen since we struck, and is floating us in. At high tide we shall be close up under the bank.” “And then what shall we do? We must either choose to fasten the vessel ashore if we can, or float out again and sail for it, or drift.” “I don’t think we’ll care about sailing again, particularly as the tide will be going out, and the night coming on.” “My idea is,” said Bruce, “to fasten her to the shore if we can, and then go along the beach or the bank till we find some people and get help.”