The fish which they had last seen had produced a very solemnizing effect on their minds. There came over them a horror of that treacherous water. They felt an aversion toward venturing in again, and were sorry that they had come. But there was no help for it. There they were now, though each one felt that he could not venture back again into the water very readily. It might have been a sturgeon, or a porpoise, or even a codfish; but the horror of its presence was still there, whatever it was. It was some time before they could rally from the panic which had filled them as they tumbled on board. And though each said but little about it, and alluded to it very lightly, yet each one understood pretty truly the feelings of the others. “Come, boys, hurry up!” This was the cry that Phil and Tom sent them from the beach. They had dressed, and were watching them with impatience. “We’re going to wait till she gets nearer,” cried Bruce. “At high tide she will be close to the beach, and we won’t have to drag the chain so far.” “You’d better come now,” said Phil. “No,” said Bart; “the chain won’t reach so far.” “All right,” said Tom. “We’ll go up the bank again till you’re ready.” Saying this, the two boys clambered up the bank, when they rambled a little into the woods. Arthur and Bart then found a line, one end of which they fastened, to the anchor. It was their intention to take the line ashore, and let go the whole chain, which they hoped could be pulled to the beach as far as the tree. Before that could be done, however, it would be necessary for the schooner to be much nearer. The water was already rising, and there yet remained many feet to be covered before the tide would reach what they considered as high-water mark. “I don’t believe it will be high tide for an hour yet. It will be an hour later than we calculated,” said Bruce. “Hang it, it’s too cold here. I wish we had our clothes.” “Well, I’m not going to freeze any longer,” said Bart, jumping down into the hold. He was absent for a few minutes, and soon returned with a quilt gracefully wrapped around him like a Roman toga. With a laugh, Arthur and Bruce jumped down, and imitated his example. Then coming on deck again, they joined Bart, and the boys professed to be very comfortable, considering all things. They now took their seats at the stem, and looked out to sea, watching for any signs of relief. This occupied them for a longer time than they thought. “I wonder what’s become of Tom and Phil,” said Arthur, suddenly jumping up and looking toward the shore. The others did the same. Scarcely had they done so, when a cry of dismay burst from them. The shore was at least five hundred yards away. Phil and Tom were scrambling down the bank, gesticulating wildly. “What’s all this?” cried Arthur. For a moment no one answered; but at last Bart said, in a voice tremulous with agitation,--