the foxes we could get at the carcass of
that whale this fall," said Rob one morning, as he stood at the sea-wall
and watched three or four of these animals scamper off up the beach when
disturbed at their feeding on the carcass. "In fact, I feel just the way
we all do, pretty much attached to this place where we've had such a
jolly good time, after all; but we've got to think of getting home some
way. We've got our water-cask ready, and our sail is done, and we've got
two or three hundred pounds of fairly good provisions. We'll pull the
dory up to the beach here opposite our camp and get her loaded. What
time do you say, John? And what do you think, Jesse? What time shall we
set for the start?"

John and Jesse stood, each breaking a bit of dried grass between his
fingers as he talked. At last John looked up.

"Any time you say, Rob," he answered, firmly.

"To-morrow, then!" said Rob.

They stood for a moment, each looking at the other. For weeks they had
been in anxiety, for many days extremely busy, most of the time too
methodical or too intent to experience much enthusiasm. Now a sudden
impulse caught all three--the spirit of resolution which accomplishes
results for man or boy. Suddenly John waved his hand above his head.

"Three cheers!" he exclaimed.

They gave them all together.

"Hip, hip, hurrah!"

XXX

"BLOWN OUT TO SEA!"

Meantime, what had happened in the outer world during all these months?
What had been the feelings of Mr. Hazlett on that day in early spring
as, hour after hour, he walked Kadiak dock and peered into the fog in
vain, waiting for the boat which did not appear? And what of his
feelings as all that day and night passed, and yet another, with no
answer to his half-frenzied search of the shores close to the town, of
the decks of the still lingering steamer, and of the surroundings of the
Mission School across the strait? None could answer his questions, and
no guess could be formed as to the missing dory and its crew, until at
last there were discovered the two natives who had rowed the dory away
from the _Nora_.

These told how the boat had disappeared while they were absent. They had
thought that the boys had made their way back to town. Now, finding
that such had not been the case, they expressed it as their belief that
when the latter had pitted their weak strength against the Pacific Ocean
they had failed and had been blown out to sea.

"Blown out to sea!" How many