pose of to the people of the coast,
and such simple comforts as the people could afford.

She was a trim and stout little fore-and-aft schooner of fifty tons
burthen. The viewers had awarded the government bounty without a
quibble. Old John Hulton, the chief of them--a terror to the slipshod
master-builders--had frankly said that she was an honest little craft
from bowsprit to taffrail. The newspapers had complimented Bill o'
Burnt Bay, her builder, in black and white which could not be
disputed. They had even called Skipper Bill "one of the honest
master-builders of the outports." Nor had they forgotten to add the
hope that "in the hands of Skipper William, builder and master, the
new craft will have many and prosperous voyages." By this praise, of
course, Skipper Bill was made to glow from head to foot with happy
gratification.

All the _First Venture_ wanted was a fair wind out.

"She can leg it, sir," Skipper Bill said to Sir Archibald, running his
eyes over the tall, trim spars of the new craft; "an' once she gets t'
sea she's got ballast enough t' stand up to a sousing breeze. With any
sort o' civil weather she ought t' make Ruddy Cove in five days."

"I'd not drive her too hard," said Sir Archibald, who had come down to
look at the new schooner for a purpose.

Bill o' Burnt Bay looked up in amazement. This from the hard-sailing
Sir Archibald!

"Not too hard," Sir Archibald repeated.

Skipper Bill laughed.

"I'm sure," said Sir Archibald, "that Mrs. William had rather have you
come safe than unexpected. Be modest, Skipper Bill, and reef the
_Venture_ when she howls for mercy."

"I'll bargain t' reef her, sir," Bill replied, "when I thinks you
would yourself."

"Oh, come, skipper!" Sir Archibald laughed.

Bill o' Burnt Bay roared like the lusty sea-dog he was.

"I've good reason for wishing you to go cautiously," said Sir
Archibald, gravely.

Bill looked up with interest.

"You've settled at Ruddy Cove, skipper?"

"Ay, sir," Bill answered. "I moved the wife t' Ruddy Cove when I
undertook t' build the _Venture_."

"I'm thinking of sending Archie down to spend the summer," said Sir
Archibald.

Bill o' Burnt Bay beamed largely and delightedly.

"Do you think," Sir Archibald went on, with a little grin, "that Mrs.
Skipper William would care to take him in?"

"_Care?_" Skipper Bill exclaimed. "Why, sir, 'twould be as good as
takin' her a stick o' peppermint."

"He'll come aboard this afternoo