that neither the captain nor Pearl was a competent pilot. "Here we are," said Dory quietly, as he put the helm down, and came up into the wind. "What's the matter now?" asked Corny. "Nothing the matter; but the Missisquoi has concluded not to come any farther in this direction just now," replied Dory, as he headed the schooner to the north-west. "She has stopped!" exclaimed Thad. "That is just what she has done," added the skipper. "What has she stopped there for?" asked Corny. "She couldn't very well help it, for she is hugging the bottom." "Hugging the bottom! What do you mean by that?" demanded Corny. "In plain English, she is aground." And the skipper proceeded to explain the situation to his companions. "Then, you knew what you were about all the time, Dory," said Thad, with something of admiration in his tones and manner. "I thought I did all the time; but I did not expect the Missisquoi would try to go over a place where the bottom is so near the top as it is on this shoal," answered Dory. "There is nearly seven miles of deep water to the eastward of this shoal to the head of Mallett's Bay. The lake is thirteen miles wide on just this line." "Were you going up Mallett's Bay?" "Not at all. I expected to run back and forth over this shoal until the Missisquoi had enough of it, and then I was going to Burlington." "Will the steamer get off the bottom?" "She was running at her best speed when she struck the bottom; and I don't believe she will get off in a hurry," replied Dory. "All we have to do is to go to Burlington, then," added Corny. "We won't be in a hurry about it," said Dory. "I want to see if she can get off. They are backing her now, and there is Captain Vesey at work with a pole. The steamer seems to stick hard. Her bow is about a foot out of water, b