get you
again. It happens that we're bound for Cedar Keys ourselves, and we'll
see you safely home. Your mother lives there, you say?" went on Frank,
patting the trembling little hand, with its hard palm, that told of much
hard work for so young a lad.

"Yes, sir; but we're awful poor. We used to live in Pensacola when dad
was on his job, but he got killed in his engine long ago. Then mother had
a chance to do something in Cedar Keys, and we came on. But things went
wrong, sister got sick, and it's been hard work to get enough to eat.
Still, my mother never complains; she ain't one of that kind; and a
feller just has to be up and doin' somethin' to help out. That was why
I came along when Uncle Ben promised good wages, and without letting her
know."

It was a whole life story in a nutshell. Frank had never come so closely
in touch with tragedy before. He continued to squeeze the hand he held,
while deep down in his heart the generous fellow was making resolutions
that would bring a little of sunshine to the Abercrombie home when they
landed in the key city.

"Well, we'll have lots of time to talk all these things over to-morrow,
and the other days to come. The rest of you pile off again, and leave me
here to sit out my watch. I promise to awaken you if anything threatens
us," he said finally.

A place was easily found for little Joe. Indeed, as Bluff remarked in a
whisper, the motorboat seemed capable of expansion.

"Just like an elevator or an electric car, there's always room for just
one more," was the way he put it.

Frank sat there, listening and thinking, for a couple of hours at least.
There was no alarm. Once he thought he heard sounds such as might be made
by the movement of a push-pole; but if so, the searching party failed to
locate the anchored motor-boat in its new lodgings.

Jerry took his place a little later, and then Bluff wound up the night,
Will being allowed to sleep in peace.

Frank was up at peep of dawn. The masts of the sharpie stood up plainly
through the dim light, showing that apparently her anchorage had not been
changed at all.

Signs of life were to be seen aboard, and smoke arising from the cabin
gave evidence that the three rough spongers were getting their frugal
breakfast. Doubtless this caused them to vent their anger anew, for it
had been a part of the boy's work to cook.

"The anticipated storm petered out, anyway," remarked Jerry at his elbow.

"Which may be a good th