“We’ll go slowly, at all events,” said Jack.

For half an hour the little craft forged slowly ahead, all three aboard keeping a sharp lookout for The Hawk.

Suddenly a breeze sprang up.  It blew lightly at first and then with more and more violence.

“Looks like Lord Hastings’ gale was about to materialize,” shouted Jack.

“Guess this is it all right,” replied Frank.

Edwards now came aft and took his stand by Frank.

“Want me to take the wheel, sir?” he asked.

“Guess I can handle it all right,” replied Frank.

“Very well, sir, only I thought you would rather be forward with Mr. Templeton.”

There was an odd note in his voice and Frank glanced at him inquiringly.

“What made you think that?” he asked sharply.

“Only,” replied Edwards, “only because this is liable to settle things for all of us.”

“You mean the storm?” asked Frank.

“Yes, sir.”

“You think it will be severe?”

“Very severe, sir.  I have sailed the seas longer than you have, sir, and I recognize the signs.”

“And you don’t think this craft can weather the storm?”

“I am afraid not, sir.  Of course there is always a possibility, and by running with the storm we have, of course, a fighting chance; but that’s all we have, sir, a fighting chance.”

“It is as much as we have had many times before,” replied Frank.

“Very well, then,” to Edwards, “you may take the wheel.  Your advice is to run before it?”

“Yes, sir, at full speed.”

“Your advice shall be taken.  We’ll keep the engine going and the steering is up to you.”

“Very good, sir.”

Edwards took the wheel and Frank made his way forward.

“Hello,” said Jack.  “Thought you were going to do the steering.”

“I was,” replied Frank, “but Edwards seemed to think he could do better and I guess he is right.  He says we are in for a bad gale.”

“He’s right,” replied Jack.  “I’ve seen the signs before.  You may remember I lived on the ocean.  Yes, we’re in for it, I’m afraid.  All we can do is run.”

“That’s what Edwards said.”

“It’ll be daylight in less than half an hour,” Jack continued.  “That will help some.  If it will hold off that long, I’ll feel better.”

And the gale did hold off.

A faint gray streaked the east, making more plain the seriousness of their situation.  The clouds hung heavy and low and it took no mariner to tell that a storm was brewing.

Gradually the wind increased and the little motorboat tore along before it.  Now the swell of the sea became heavier.  Waves rolled higher and higher and the little craft first wallowed in the trough of the sea and then climbed the gigantic waves.

“No wonder people get seasick,” Frank muttered to himself.

The wind increased in violence until it blew a hurricane, but still the little motorboat did not falter; it bore on as bravely as before, climbing wave after wave swiftly and unerringly.  Edwards, at the wheel, was giving a splendid example of seamanship.