for a few minutes the _adventurer_ hovered by, and then, as there was a fair breeze blowing now and joe and neil were showing interest in the seasickness remedy, steve suggested a tow and harry corwin, after some hesitation, pocketed his pride and agreed. a little before one oclock the two boats slipped into north sea harbour and dropped anchors. while the _follow me_ doctored her engine the _adventurer_ sat down to a delayed dinner. ossie gloomily predicted that everything would be spoiled, but if it was, no one save ossie apparently knew it. there was broiled bluefish and boiled potatoes and spinach and sliced cucumbers that day, followed by a marvellous concoction which the steward called a prune pudding. perry said he didnt care what it was called so long as it came, and, please hed like some more! no cook can withstand such a compliment as that, and ossie cast off his gloom. they all declared that that dinner was just about the best they had ever eaten, and they meant it, and ossie swelled visibly with pride and almost declined hans halfhearted offer to help wash dishes! when the rest went back to the deck and saw the fellows on the _follow me_ eating sandwiches and other items of a cold repast on deck they felt rather apologetic, and joe and steve slung the tender over and paddled across to lend what assistance they might. but they found tom corwin, very dirty and hot and somewhat peevish, reassembling the engine with the help of brownie, and learned that the trouble had been discovered and that the boat would go just as soon as they could get her together again, which, from present indications, would be some time the day after tomorrow! harry corwin told steve he had better go ahead, that there was no use in the _adventurer_ lying around and waiting, but steve replied that there was no hurry and that theyd stand by. the atmosphere on the _follow me_ was not very cheerful and the visitors went back to their own craft after a decent lapse of time. about three the fellows donned swimming tights and went in from the boat and had a fine time in the water, and by the time they had had enough of that there came a heartening _chugchugchug_ from the _follow mes_ exhaust and wink announced that they were ready to go on. as a result of the delay, it was almost six when they reached shelter island and steered the cruiser to an anchorage. they had supper ashore at seven, having dressed themselves in shoregoing attire, but it was noticeable that it was the _follow mes_ company who made the most of the meal. neil met up with an acquaintance on the hotel porch after supperthey chose to call it supper although it was really a fullcourse dinnerand that meeting led to introductions and the boys did the society act, to use perrys disgusted phrase, for the rest of the evening. as it was a saturday night there was a dance going on, and steve and joe and han, of the _adventurers_ crowd, and several of the other boats company, took part. they didnt get back to the boats until almost midnight, and perry fell asleep in the dingey, on the second trip, and had to be practically hoisted aboard. he muttered protestingly until he had been dumped in his berth and then promptly went to sleep as he was. they spent the next day at shelter island, not because anyone considered it wrong to cruise on sunday, but because steve and joe and han had discovered attractions at the hotel. perry demanded that the question of staying be put to a vote and the rest agreed, but the result wasnt what perry had hoped for because neil basely cast his ballot with steve and joe and han. the four went off soon after breakfast, having spent much time and effort on their various attires, and werent seen again until late afternoon. at least, they werent seen again aboard the cruiser until that time, although perry, phil and ossie, following them ashore after dinner, were scandalised to see them strolling around quite brazenly in the company of an equal number of young ladies. girls! snorted perry scornfully. why, the big chumps, they look as if they liked it! gee, its enough to sicken a fellow! chapter vi in the fog weve been going two whole days now, declared perry, and we havent even glimpsed an adventure. it was tuesday morning and the two cruisers were lying side by side in new bedford harbour. a light drizzle was falling and even under the awning of the bridge deck everything was coated with a film of moisture. the _adventurer_ and the _follow me_ had done just short of a hundred miles yesterday, reaching the present port at nightfall. they had averaged fifteen miles an hour and neither engine had missed an explosion all day long. joe had been rather stuckup over the way his engine had performed and had been inclined to take a good share of the credit to himself. perry, however, had declared that the only reason the thing had run was because joe had left it alone. its lucky for us youre afraid to touch it, said perry. if you werent wed have been wallowing around somewhere between here and africa two days ago! it had been too late to go ashore for sightseeing last evening, and they had put it off until morning. and now it was drizzling in a steady, wholehearted way that promised to make sightseeing a miserable business. some of the crew of the _follow me_ had come aboard to discuss plans and the question was whether to remain in harbour and await better weather or to set out again and run as far as marthas vineyard. perry was all for action, and he had the support of numerous others, but steve pointed out that running the cruiser in such weather in strange waters was not over pleasant. its all well enough for the rest of you, for all you have to do is lie around and read, but its another thing to stand up there at the wheel and keep from running into the landscape! give her to me, advised perry. ill get her to edgartown or wherever you want to go, rightsideup with care. if you take the wheel, said han, i get out and walk every foot of the way. better put your rubbers on, suggested wink wheeler. you fellows make me very tired, continued perry severely. you call yourselves the adventure club and start out to see some sport, and then the first time theres a heavy mist you want to stick around an old harbour for fear youll get damp! weve been going two whole days now, and we havent even glimpsed an adventure! an adventure is one thing, said ossie, and getting drowned is something else again. tell you what, perry; if you are so keen for sport why dont you slip into the tender and run over to vineyard haven yourself? well follow along tomorrow, or maybe this afternoon. i want to see this town, said joe. theres lots to look at in here. whaling ships and a museum andand lots of romantic things. the whaling ships are all gone now, said perry disdainfully. theyve chopped them all up and sold them by the cord for fire wood. i know, for we bought a lot of it once. it cost dad about ten dollars for express and didnt burn any different from any other wood. my grandmother steve groaned. for the love of lemons, perry, dont resurrect your grandmother. let the poor old lady lie