berth. What's
the world like, if we can't hold out a helping hand to one another in
trouble?"

This was all satisfactory, and money was provided to pay the railway
journey to Yarmouth, while Jack's few shillings were expended in a pair
of second-hand boots for himself, and a new jersey--that which had
served for a flag of distress in mid-ocean being so full of holes that
he presented a very ragged appearance.

Home at last! Home! Yes, where his mother was, was Home. He would
not care about the cold looks of his aunt: he would bear even Mr.
Skinner's gibes and scoffs: he would bear everything for his mother's
sake. And then, at last he had tidings for her!

Colley was put down at a station before Yarmouth was reached, as it was
nearer the home of his old mother, who looked after his little ones.

"For I married late in life, my boy," he said to Jack, "and lost my
poor wife almost as soon as I'd got her. She just lived to be the
mother of the youngest of the three children, and then she died. The
sailor's life is a hard one, and the wives of sailors have a hard time,
boy! The men grow old, like me, before their time. Why, I'm but just
over fifty years old, and I feel a vast deal more like seventy. Take
my advice, boy, and give up the sea. You are a good scholar, and you
are the only son of your mother. Bear all your aunt's hard words, and
live ashore, and be a comfort to her. You have had your lesson. God
has given you a pretty hard one to learn, first page! But never
mind--so much the better for you. Those days and nights were about the
worst I ever went through, and I've had a taste of dangers, I can tell
you. Don't you forget them, nor the Lord's mercy to you and me in
delivering us from the dreadful death of starvation. Don't forget it."

"Forget it!" Jack said. "Why, I dream of it most nights, and see
little Peter's dying eyes. I----"

Jack's voice was choked with tears, and old Colley wrung his hand,
while Toby wriggled up to him, and licked his face with silent sympathy.

Colley stumbled out of the carriage with Toby in his arms when the
station was reached, and so they parted.

In a few minutes more Jack found himself in Yarmouth, and was making
his way towards the row. His only thought was of his mother and little
Miss Joy. He looked up the familiar row, and then darted through it
till he came to the little milliner's shop. The widow's caps still
showed in the window, and there wa