“Jack,” Harry said with a shiver, as he grasped his chum’s hand, “that was a mighty close shave.  I’m glad it terminated so well.”

The silent grasp that Jack returned spoke louder than words of the bond of friendship that existed between the boys.

“Come, come,” bustled Harry, “Jack will be getting hungry.  Whose watch is it in the kitchenette?  I was on last, I know!”

“Yes, you were!” declared Arnold in mock anger.  “You are always just off duty when there’s work to do!  We know you!”

It was decided that Harry must prepare supper, for the boys were all famished after their hard day’s work.

“You’ll have to check down a little if I cook!” asserted Harry.  “This isn’t a battleship, and the pirates are far astern.”

“Good idea,” Jack assented.  “Check her down, Tom, and save fuel.  After that Madero’s wasting of our gasoline, we’ll need all we have.  He didn’t seem to care for expense a little bit!”

The suggestion was followed, and shortly the Fortuna was traveling at a more moderate gait, taking the seas easily without shipping water on her forward deck.  Frank was enthusiastic over the arrangements, declaring that each feature was exactly as he would have wished for it himself.  The searchlight and cabin lights operated by the dynamo below decks were sources of pleasure.

Harry was soon busily engaged in preparing a bountiful supper for the boys who were ready to do ample justice to his skill in the kitchen.  Harry felt justly proud of his ability as did the others, who sat down to a supper of broiled Red Snapper with a mushroom sauce helped out by fried potatoes, hot baking powder biscuits and excellent coffee.  Frank had opened a tin of marmalade which disappeared rapidly before the young appetites.

Frank had been relieved at the wheel by Arnold who loved to be entrusted with the management of the boat.

While the boys ate, a glorious sunset graced the western sky.  Long spears of light flashed up through misty, veil-like clouds, seeming to invite the boys to the West, as if holding out to them promises of great things in store.

Silently the boys gazed in rapt wonder.  At last with a deep sigh, Frank broke the silence that had seemed to hold all the boys.

“Isn’t that grand?” he asked.  “For that one could almost willingly repeat what we’ve been through today.  I like sunrises and sunsets and storms and calms and all the phenomena of nature.”

“I like trees and flowers most of all!” declared Tom.

“And I like live things—­birds and squirrels and such!” Arnold declared.  When I grow up, I’m going to be President and have a law passed that it’s a crime to rob nests and kill squirrels and things like that.  I’d rather let them live!”

“Well, I belong to an Audubon Society at home,” Frank stated.  “I think it’s fine to study the birds and their habits and intelligence.  We study about other creatures, too.  I am learning a lot about the creatures of the wild out-of-doors.  It’s interesting.”