night."

"We may have to," answered Russ, grimly enough.

"Oh, please don't say that!" she faltered.

"Why, it won't be so bad," put in the jolly Irish woman. "We've got a
roomy boat, thank goodness. We can lie down on the rugs, with our rubber
coats for protection against the dew. We have some food left, and the
moon will soon be up, for it's clearing fast. Then, in the morning, we
can find our way back to the steamer."

"Of course!" exclaimed Paul, who realized the necessity of keeping up the
spirits of the girls. "We'll be laughing at this to-morrow."

"Do you really think so?" asked Ruth, timorously.

"I'm sure of it," he said. "Now let's figure out what we'd better do."

"How about going ashore?" suggested Russ.

"Never!" cried Ruth.

"Why not?"

"Oh, we don't know what sort of horrid things may be in the woods. It's
safer in the boat."

"You forget about the--" Alice began, but she did not finish. She had
been about to say "manatees and alligators," but thought better of it.