And then what songs we sang! what famous sea stories Hall told us! how Hutton made us roar with his recitations! how the time seemed to fly, and the boat too, and we in it, until at last we found the Great Shargle towering over our heads, and knew we had all but reached our destination.
Hall looked at his watch.
"That was a good run, boys," said he; "not quite two hours--an uncommonly good run for an old tub like this.

Now where shall we land ?" "I vote we land on Welkin Island," said Charlie.
Welkin Island was separate about three-quarters of a mile from the mainland, famous for its caves and shells.
"All serene," said Hall, putting the boat about; "stand by." So we made our last tack, and very soon were close up at the island.
After some cruising we selected an eligible creek for landing, into which Hall ran our boat as neatly as the most experienced helmsman in Her Majesty's Navy.
Then we landed, and dragging ashore our hamper of provisions, picnicked at the edge of the rocks, with the water on three sides of us, with Shargle Head across the narrow channel rising majestically above us, and the great amphitheatre of the bay extended like a picture beyond.
Need I say what a jovial repast it was; what appetites we had, what zest our situation lent to our meal, how each vied with each in merriment! But Charlie was the blithest of us all.
Then we wandered over that wonderful island.

We waded into the caves, and climbed to the cliff tops; we filled our pockets with shells, we bathed, we aimed stones into the sea, we raced along the strand, we cut our names in a row on the highest point of the island, in commemoration of our expedition, and there they remain to this day.
"I say, I hope it's not going to rain," said Hutton, looking up at the clouds, which had for some time been obscuring the sun.
"Who cares if it does ?" shouted Charlie.

"Hullo, there goes my roof!" cried he, as a sudden gust of wind lifted his hat from his head, and sent it skimming down the rocks.
"I think it's time we started home," said Hall hurriedly.
There was something in the uneasy look of his face as he said this which made me uncomfortable.
So we turned to embark once more in our boat.
We could not conceal from ourselves, as we made our way to the creek where we had left her moored, that the weather, which had thus far been so propitious to our expedition, was not holding out as we could have wished.

The wind, which had been little more than a steady breeze during the morning, now met us in frequent gusts, which made us raise our hands to our hats.