other, and don't let
her worry about us. We'll be back almost before you have time to miss
us. Good-bye, David! I trust you to look out for them because you
have promised."

"Oh! how I wish I were a boy and going with you," exclaimed Cola. "It
is so stupid to be left behind with nothing to do but just wait. Do
please hurry back."

"All right," replied her brother. "With good luck we'll sail into
Pretty Harbour inside of a month, and perhaps with money enough to take
us all to the States."

"Oh, wouldn't that be splendid! Do get started, for the sooner you
are off the quicker you'll come back," cried the girl.

"That's so. Come on, Cabot," and in another minute the boat had shot
out from the beach, while the cart was slowly climbing the rugged trail
that led inland.

On reaching the schooners our lads found Captain Bland impatiently
awaiting them, since the transfer of goods was nearly completed, and he
was anxious to get his compromising cargo away from the coast patrolled
by those meddlesome frigates.

"Let me once get beyond the three-mile limit," he said, "and I wouldn't
mind meeting a fleet of 'em; if either one of 'em caught me in here,
though, I'd not only stand to lose cargo, but schooner as well. So I
reckon we'd best get a move on at once, and talk business while we tow
out."

As our lads wore equally desirous of gaining a safe distance from the
authorities they had so openly defied, they readily agreed to Captain
Bland's proposal, and four dories, each manned by a couple of stalwart
Yankee fishermen, were ordered to tow the schooners from their snug
hiding place. While this was going on, and White was busily engaged on
the deck of the "Sea Bee," Cabot and Captain Bland were examining
invoices and price lists in her cabin.

"Here's a list of all I've put aboard," said the latter, "and you'll
see I've only made a small freight charge over and above the cost price
in Boston. Same time I've allowed for your pack the full market price
on canned lobsters according to latest St. Johns quotations, and you
ought not to sell a single barrel at less 'n one hundred per cent.
clear profit. As for the kettles and tools, here's an order on my
owners in Gloucester for them, or what they'll fetch less a freight
charge, provided I get 'em there all right; but I want both you and
young Baldwin to sign this release that frees me from all claims for
loss of property in case anything happens to 'em."

"I a