ll warn him well."

He hailed the occupant, a fisherman with a simple, good-humoured face,
who hung on his oars and surveyed the ship.

"Keep off, there!" shouted the skipper. "We need no man's help. I
warn you an' your mates fair not to come aboard. You've no right here
under the law so long as there's a man o' the crew left on the ship,
and I'll use force to keep you off."

"You're not able to get her off, sir," said the fisherman, rowing on,
as if bent on boarding. "She's a wreck."

"Billy," the skipper ordered, "get forward with a gaff and keep him
off."

With that the fisherman turned his punt about and made off for the
shore.

"Aye, aye, Billy!" he called, good-naturedly. "I'll give you no call
to strike me."

"He'll come back with others," the skipper remarked, gloomily. "'Tis a
bad lookout."

"We'll try to haul her off with the punt," suggested Archie.

"With the punt!" the skipper laughed. "'Twould be as easy to haul
Blow-Me-Down out by the roots. But if we can keep the wreckers off, by
trick or by force, we'll not lose her. The _Grand Lake_ passed up the
coast on Monday. She'll be steamin' into Hook-and-Line again on
Thursday. As she doesn't call at Jolly Harbour we'll have t' go fetch
her. We can run over in the punt an' fetch her. 'Tis a matter o'
gettin' there and back before the schooner's torn t' pieces."

At dawn of the next day Skipper Bill determined to set out for
Hook-and-Line to intercept the steamer. In the meantime there had been
no sign of life ashore. Doubtless, the crew of the _Spot Cash_
thought, the news of the wreck was on its way to neighbouring
settlements. The wind had blown itself out; but the sea was still
running high, and five hands (three of them boys) were needed to row
the heavy schooner's punt through the lop and distance. Muscle was
needed for the punt; nothing but wit could save the schooner. Who
should stay behind?

"Let Archie stay behind," said Billy Topsail.

"No," Skipper Bill replied; "he'll be needed t' bargain with the
captain o' the _Grand Lake_."

There was a moment of silence.

"Billy," said the skipper, "you'll stay."

Billy nodded shortly.

"Now, Billy Topsail," Skipper Bill went on, "I fear you've never read
the chapter on' Wreck an' Salvage' in the 'Consolidated Statutes o'
Newfoundland.' So I'm going t' tell you some things you don't know.
Now, listen careful! By law, b'y," tapping the boy on the breast with
a thick, tarry finger, "if they'