“Yes,” answered Tom.  “Our father got lost there once, and we went in search of him,” and he gave a few of the particulars, as already related in another volume of this series, entitled “The Rover Boys in the Jungle.”

“Well, you boys have had some ups and downs,” said the captain.  “But I reckon you weren’t cast away before like this.”

“Not like this,” answered Sam.  “But we were left on a lonely island once in Lake Huron,” and he related a few particulars of their exciting experiences with the Baxters while on the Great Lakes.

Another downpour of rain cut off the talking, and Tom was kept busy bailing out the row-boat.  With three persons and the two dead goats the craft was pretty heavily loaded, and more than once the rising wind swept some water over the bow.

“I’d give a little to be ashore again,” said Tom presently.  “It seems to me that the rain is shutting out everything.”

“We’ll have to land again, lads,” put in the captain, with a grave shake of his head.  “This wind is growing worse.  We don’t want to be swamped.”

They turned to what they thought must be the direction of the nearest shore, but though they pulled with might and main for nearly quarter of an hour no land appeared.

“We’re mixed,” cried Sam.  “The storm has twisted us up.”

By this time the wind was blowing a regular gale on the bay.  It took off Tom’s cap, and in a twinkle the headgear was out of sight.

“My cap’s gone!” groaned the youth.

“The water is coming in over the bow!” came from Sam.  “We will be swamped!”

“We must throw the goats overboard,” said the captain, and overboard went the game, much to the boys’ sorrow.

This lightened the craft a little, but still the waves swept over the gunwale, and now both Sam and Tom set to bailing, while the captain took both oars.  Then came another blast of wind, worse than before.

“I see land!” cried Sam.

“We are going over!” yelled Tom, and the wind fairly whipped the words from his lips.  Then came a mighty wave, and on the instant the rowboat was upset, and all three found themselves in the waters of the bay.

As they went under the same thought was in the mind of each:  Were there any sharks around?

“Help! help!” cried Sam, as soon as he came up.  “Our boat is sinking.  Help!” And Tom soon joined in the cry.  They had caught hold of the overturned boat, but the craft, for some reason, failed to support them.

Captain Blossom was close at hand, and he advised them to strike out for the shore.

“It’s in this direction,” he said, and led the way.

“I—­I can’t swim very far with my clothes on,” gasped Sam, yet he struck out as best he could.

“Hullo!  Who calls?” came a cry from the shore, and, looking up, they saw Dora standing there, with Nellie and Grace Laning close beside her.

“It’s Tom and Sam!” cried Nellie.