biting his account
book and some other papers which he had retained. Sam Ray was
satisfied, and vowed that if ever he saw Tom Spicer he would certainly
"lick" him for his sake.

"Now, sonny, I like you; I will be sworn you are a good fellow; and I
mean to help you off. So just come along with me. I make my living by
browsing round, hunting and fishing a little, and doing an odd job now
and then. You see, I have got a good boat down the creek, and I shall
just put you aboard and take you any where you have a mind to go."

"May Heaven reward you!" cried Bobby, almost overcome by this sudden
and unexpected kindness.

"O, I don't want no reward; only when you get to be a great man--and I
am dead sure you will be a great man--just think now and then of Sam
Ray, and it's all right."

"I shall remember you with gratitude as long as I live."

Sam Ray took his gun on his shoulder, and Bobby the box of provision
which Mrs. Ray had put up, and they left the house. At the bridge they
got into a little skiff, and Sam took the oars. After they had passed
a bend in the creek which concealed them from the road, Bobby felt
secure from further molestation.

Sam pulled about two miles down the creek, where it widened into a
broad bay, near the head of which was anchored a small schooner.

"Now, my hearty, nothing short of Uncle Sam's whole navy can get you
away from me," said Sam, as he pulled alongside the schooner.

"You have been very kind to me."

"All right, sonny. Now tumble aboard."

Bobby jumped upon the deck of the little craft and Sam followed him,
after making fast the skiff to the schooner's moorings.

In a few minutes the little vessel was standing down the bay with "a
fresh wind and a flowing sheet." Bobby, who had never been in a sail
boat before, was delighted, and in no measured terms expressed his
admiration of the working of the trim little craft.

"Now, sonny, where shall we go?" asked Sam, as they emerged from the
bay into the broad ocean.

"I don't know," replied Bobby. "I want to get back to Boston."

"Perhaps I can put you aboard of some coaster bound there."

"That will do nicely."

"I will head towards Boston, and if I don't overhaul any thing, I will
take you there myself."

"Is this boat big enough to go so far?"

"She'll stand anything short of a West India hurricane. You ain't
afeerd, are you?"

"O, no; I like it."

The big waves now tossed the little vessel up and down lik