A SERIOUS LOSS Under a bright blue sky, with the sun shining down almost a little too warm for comfort, and with the sea very calm, the voyage that meant so much to all of them was begun.

They looked back with a little regret at the small island they were leaving.

There, at least, they knew they would be safe, but unless they desired to risk the chance of staying there many months, they must make this venture.
"Well, it was a fine little camp," murmured Bob, with a tone of sorrow in his voice.
"Indeed it was," declared Mr.Tarbill.

"I wish I was back there now." "Perhaps we all will be," said Captain Spark gravely, "but there is no use discovering a leak in your boat until it's actually there," which was his way of saying that it was bad luck to cross a bridge until you came to it.
"Now we've got to have some system about this voyage," went on the commander.

"We've got enough provisions and water to last us for the trip if we are careful of them.