hed madly on, yet under perfect control, and the gallant
skipper, when he saw through the deep darkness, the white breakers on
Rock Island, felt entirely relieved from the responsibility which had
before almost crushed his spirits, for it was plain sailing after he had
passed that point and the dangerous reefs which environed it. If the
Fawn could stand such a sea as that, she could stand anything, and her
character was fully established for the future.

His spirits rose as he neared South Point light, which was not more than
a mile and a half from his mother's house. He whistled merrily, to give
expression to his satisfaction, as he passed the light, for he and the
boat were now safe beyond a peradventure. Taking an extra turn in the
foresheet, he laid the course of the boat a little closer to the wind,
which soon brought her into the comparatively still water behind Long
Island.

He saw the cottage of his mother now, and a light was burning in her
chamber. He was grieved to see this, for he feared she might be sick, or
that in her anxiety for the safety of her boys, she had sat up all night
thinking of them. But in a few moments, he let go the anchor off the
beach, and lowered the foresail. After making everything secure on
board, he hauled the old boat, which he had moored there in the morning,
alongside. John was still asleep; neither the paying out of the cable,
nor the noise of Paul's feet, as he furled the foresail, had roused him
from his deep slumbers, and the skipper decided to let him finish his
night's rest on board.

Sculling the old boat ashore, he ran up the hill, and knocked at the
side door of the cottage.

"Who's there?" asked his mother.

"Paul."

The door was opened, and the fond mother clasped her son to her heart,
while the great tears coursed down her furrowed cheeks.

"I am so glad you have got back!" exclaimed she; "I was sure you were
drowned. Where is John? He isn't with you, Paul! O, he is----"

"Fast asleep on board the Fawn, mother."

"Then he is safe."

"Yes; safe--yes."

"You have had a terrible time of it--haven't you?"

"Not very bad, mother; the wind and tide were against us, and we
couldn't get up without carrying more sail than I thought it was safe to
carry; so I ran under the lee of an island, and anchored."

"But what did you start back in the night for?"

"The wind hauled round to the northeast, and blew so that we dragged our
anchor, and had to make sail to kee