“Oh, I think we ought to find a mooring place at some island about a mile from here and try to get a little sleep before daybreak,” Mr. Buckley replied.  “I’m sure Mr. Baker and I need some brain rest after the slams we got on our craniums.  I’ve got the worst headache right now that I ever had in my life.”

“So have I,” Mr. Baker chimed in.

“All right, let’s not discuss this affair any more to-night,” Mr. Perry proposed.  “Boys, you may as well get your wits together to arrange the most comfortable sleeping quarters possible under the circumstances.  I guess about all our bedding is at the camp.”

The boys set about to do as suggested, but it was not long before they realized that wits could do little for them regarding rest convenience for the remainder of the night.  Presently they reported back the following results to Mr. Perry: 

One lounge in the cabin, bedding enough for one of the berths and enough other bedding and articles of clothing to be rolled into pillow substitutes for half a dozen sleepers.

Presently Mr. Buckley, who had been keeping a sharp lookout ahead in the moonlight, supplemented by the strong headlight of the Catwhisker, pointed out what seemed to be a suitable mooring place for the yacht for the rest of the night, and a careful run-in was made, accompanied by pole-soundings to prevent running aground.  The depth proved to be O.K., and in a short time the yacht was tied up to a small tree which leaned over almost far enough to dip some of its branches into the water.  As all were eager to waste no time belonging to nature’s nocturnal period of rest, the pillow substitutes were soon rolled and the various sleeping quarters assigned according to varying degrees of necessity.  Because of their “sand-bag headaches,” Mr. Baker and Mr. Buckley were given the cabin lounge and the available stateroom berth.  Although they felt reasonably safe against further intrusion in their new quarters, nevertheless it was deemed wise to maintain a series of one-hour watches, the first of which fell to Mr. Perry by his own choice.  Before the general retirement of all but the first watch, an inspection was made of the stateroom prison, and the boy prisoner was found to be fast asleep on the floor with one arm for a pillow.

Hal was given the last watch, beginning shortly before the break of day.  Bud who had preceded him, handed over his slingshot together with a supply of stones which he had brought in one of his pockets from Friday Island.  Hal accepted the catapult with profound respect, expressing full confidence in his ability to repel a formidable array of would-be boarders with a weapon of such knock-out record.

After it was light enough for him to see what he was doing, Hal occupied his time by connecting his radio set for service on the yacht once more.  When this task was completed, he set about to prepare breakfast, deciding that he would let the sleepers get another hour’s rest, as he could prepare the morning meal alone almost as quickly as with the aid of one or two others.  He had already learned the truth of the housewife’s axiom that “two are a crowd in a kitchen, and three are a throng.”