looded deep. The
plan served his turn. He landed fairly, bent deliberately, caught
Rowl's coat with both hands, dragged him on the pan, leaped away,
springing out of six inches of water; and when, having crossed to the
Scalawag shore of the lane, he turned, Rowl was still on the ice, flat
on his back, resting. It was a rescue.

Presently Sandy Rowl joined Tommy Lark.

"All right?" Tommy inquired.

"I'm cold an' I'm drippin'," Sandy replied; "but otherwise I'm fair
enough an' glad t' be breathin' the breath o' life. I won't thank you,
Tommy."

"I don't want no thanks."

"I won't thank you. No, Tommy. I'll do better. I'll leave Elizabeth t'
thank you. You've won a full measure o' thanks, Tommy, from
Elizabeth."

"You thinks well o' yourself," Tommy declared. "I'm danged if you
don't!"

* * * * *

An hour later Tommy Lark and the dripping Sandy Rowl entered the
kitchen of Elizabeth Luke's home at Scalawag Harbor. Skipper James was
off to prayer meeting. Elizabeth Luke's mother sat knitting alone by
the kitchen fire. To her, then, Tommy Lark presented the telegram,
having first warned her, to ease the shock, that a message had
arrived, contents unknown, from the region of Grace Harbor. Having
commanded her self-possession, Elizabeth Luke's mother received and
read the telegram, Tommy Lark and Sandy Rowl standing by, eyes wide to
catch the first indication of the contents in the expression of the
slow old woman's countenance.

There was no indication, however--not that Tommy Lark and Sandy Rowl
could read. Elizabeth Luke's mother stared at the telegram; that was
all. She was neither downcast nor rejoiced. Her face was blank.

Having read the brief message once, she read it again; and having
reflected, and having read it for the third time, and having reflected
once more, without achieving any enlightenment whatsoever, she looked
up, her wrinkled face screwed in an effort to solve the mystery. She
pursed her lips, she tapped the floor with her toe, she tapped her
nose with her forefinger, she pushed up her spectacles, she scratched
her chin, even she scratched her head; and then she declared to Tommy
Lark and Sandy Rowl that she could make nothing of it at all.

"Is the maid sick?" Tommy inquired.

"She is."

"I knowed it!" Tommy declared.

"She says she's homesick." Elizabeth's mother pulled down her
spectacles and referred to the telegram. "'Homesick,' says she," she
added