Page:Barbour--Lost island.djvu/216

 pounding away at top speed, but it's mighty tricky work, because the current will carry you a mile off your course in no time." Usually the mist melted and disappeared soon after the sun peeked over the horizon, but this morning it hung obstinately and grew thicker, looking like a vast curtain of down spread over the water. Before midday the captain slowed the engines again, and crept forward for several hours. As near as he could reckon, they were within a mile or two of an island marked on the chart, which he wished to see so that he could make doubly sure of his bearings. Dave was below, in his bunk, fast asleep, when a peculiar, grating noise startled him.

"What's that?" he said, rubbing his eyes.

Again the grating, accompanied this time by a distinct bump.

"The old man's done it now!" a sailor exclaimed, jumping out of his berth and hastening into some clothes. "Bless my soul if he ain't