ing slowly
and carefully. "What's her name?"

"I forget," said the boy, yawning.

Conversation flagged, and the two sat idly watching the last of the
children as they toiled slowly towards home from the sands. The sun had
set and the air was getting chilly.

"I'll be getting home," said the old man. "Goodnight, my lad."

"Good-night to you," said the well-mannered Henry.

He watched the old man's still strong figure as it passed slowly up the
steps, and allowing him to get some little distance start, cautiously
followed. He followed him up the steps and along the cliff, the figure
in front never halting until it reached a small court at the back of
a livery stable; then, heedless of the small shadow, now very close
behind, it pushed open the door of a dirty little house and entered. The
shadow crept up and paused irresolute, and then, after a careful survey
of the place, stole silently and swiftly away.

The shadow, choosing the road because it was quicker, now danced back to
Stourwich, and jumping lightly on to the schooner, came behind the cook
and thumped him heavily on the back. Before the cook could seize him he
had passed on to Sam, and embracing as much of that gentleman's waist as
possible, vainly besought him to dance.

"'E's off 'is 'ead," said Sam, shaking himself free and regarding him
unfavorably. "What's wrong, kiddy?"

"Nothing," said Henry jubilantly; "everything's right."

"More happles?" said the cook with a nasty sneer.

"No, it ain't apples," said Henry hotly; "you never get more than one
idea at a time into that 'ead of yours. Where's the skipper? I've got
something important to tell 'im--something that'll make 'im dance."

"Wot is it?" said the cook and Sam together turning pale.

"Now don't get excited," said Henry, holding up his hand warningly;
"it's bad for you, Sam, because you're too fat, and it's bad for cookie
because 'is 'ead's weak. You'll know all in good time."

He walked aft, leaving them to confer uneasily as to the cause of his
jubilant condition, and hastily descending the companion ladder, burst
noisily into the cabin and surveyed the skipper and mate with a smile,
which he intended should be full of information. Both looked up in
surprise, and the skipper, who was in a very bad temper, half rose from
his seat.

"Where've you been, you young rascal?" he asked, eyeing him sternly.

"Looking around," said Henry, still smiling as he thought of the change
in the skipp