. Well, all things considered, it will be
best for the boat first to take half of us this distance to Betsy Cove,
going all the way in the one trip; and then to return for the other
portion of the party. We have lightened her considerably of the
provisions during the last ten days, and being able to carry twelve or
fourteen hands ordinarily, she will now easily take us across the bay in
two trips--that is, if some of you don't mind a little squeezing."

"Will--will--it be quite safe?" said Mrs Major Negus in a hesitating
way, looking at the bright, frisking little wavelets which covered the
blue sea of the bay with some slight alarm. She had imbibed a perfect
horror of the water and all pertaining to it ever since the wreck.

"Quite," answered Mr Meldrum. "We've had peril enough without my
seeking to endanger your safety now! I suppose," continued he, going on
to explain the arrangements, "the boat will take a day, say, in getting
to Betsy Cove, and another day coming back on the return voyage for the
rest.--We'll call it three days, to allow for contingencies; so that, we
shall not be apart more than four days at the outside, allowing due time
for the boat reaching the Cove again after her second trip hither."

"Fancy!" whispered Frank to Kate. "Four whole days that I may not be
able to see you! I know it will be just my luck that I shall have to
stay behind at the camp; for, your father will most probably take all
the ladies with him in the first trip, as he did at setting out."

"Oh, dear!" said Kate smiling, "that will be a terribly long separation,
won't it?"

"You darling tease!" exclaimed he; "I don't believe you care for me half
as much as I do for you!"

"Don't I!" she said softly; and her melting blue eyes would have
disclosed a secret if Frank had been looking into them at the moment--
which very probably he was!

However, the sad eventuality he had conjectured did not occur. Mr
Meldrum, knowing the condition of matters between the lovers, did not
have the heart to separate the two, even temporarily; and so Frank had
the supreme and unexpected felicity of accompanying Kate in the first
trip the jolly-boat took across the bay to Betsy Cove--Mrs Major Negus
and Maurice, Mr Meldrum and Florry, Mr Adams and Captain Dinks, of
course, besides six of the seamen, being their fellow-passengers.

Mr Lathrope remained at the head of the inlet, with Mr McCarthy, in
charge of the camp and the remaining han