the _Martha_, where she lay in almost the same spot where two of them
had seen her three-and-a-half months ago. Then Dick said:--

"Think of her turning up at last!"

"I half guessed she would," said Georgie, "though I never expected it.
I say, this settles our row, doesn't it?"

"Pretty well. But of course Tom White may catch it for pawning the
boat. He collared the money, you know."

"Ah, but that's not got much to do with us," said Heathcote.

"Well," said Dick, "we ought to back him right up, while we are at it.
Besides, you know, we may still get into a row for letting her go,
though she _has_ turned up."

Altogether the "Firm" were not very sure how far their position was
improved by the recovery of the _Martha_. If Pledge, or any one, chose
to tell tales, or if they themselves, in order to extricate Tom White,
had to tell tales of themselves, all might yet go wrong. The one good
thing, they decided, was that Mr Richardson, when he came to-morrow,
would be saved the expense of buying at least one new boat for somebody.

Our heroes, as in duty bound, were at the station to meet the 3:5 train,
and give the worthy paterfamilias a reception.

"Hullo, father," cried Dick, as if he had only parted with his parent
five minutes ago, "they've found her, I say. Do you see that two-masted
collier in the harbour? She picked her up, the day after we slipped
her. Isn't it jolly?"

Mr Richardson certainly looked surprised, and a trifle relieved; but
the matter did not yet occur to him in a "jolly" light.

"It's a good thing she has come back," said he; "and now, as I have a
great deal to do, I'll say good-bye for the present. I have sent a note
to Doctor Winter, to ask him to let you breakfast with me at the
'George,' in the morning."

"Thanks, awfully, sir," said Coote, beaming all over.

Mr Richardson laughed.

"I'm afraid I only mentioned Basil in my note," said he, "but I daresay
we shall be able to have a meal together later in the day. Good-bye."

"Rather cool cheek of you, Coote," said Dick, as the "Firm" returned to
the school, "cadging my father that way for breakfast."

"Very sorry," said Coote, humbly. "I thought we were all in it, that's
all."

The evening passed anxiously for the boys, and no less so for poor Mr
Richardson, who was buffeted about from pillar to post, from lawyer to
lawyer, from boatman to pawnbroker, in his honest efforts to extricate
his son from his scrape.

The re