Archie took the helm, having learned somewhat of the steering on previous excursions, and the three fishermen tugged at the oars.

It was a cross sea, for although the wind now blew nearly in their teeth, it had until the last half hour been from the west, and the waves were rolling in from the Atlantic.

The boat, however, made fair progress, and Archie began to think that the doubts of the fishermen as to their making the shore were in no wise justified, when suddenly a gust, far stronger than those they had hitherto met, struck the boat.

"Keep her head straight!" the fisherman shouted.

"Don't let the wind take it one side or the other.