ad seen only so recently as
that very morning, when of course master doggie had accompanied Bob to
the beach for his bathe; and so, naturally, there was every reason for
his receiving Hellyer in a friendly manner. Hence, his bark, alarming
though it might have sounded at the first go off to Nell and her aunt,
was found now to have been a bark of recognition and joy and not one of
warning.

Mrs Gilmour felt such a sensation of relief at the sight of Hellyer
that her feelings prevented her from speaking. As she told Nell
afterwards, she "couldn't have uttered a word to save her life"; and
there she remained, "staring at the poor man," to use her own
expression, and one that savoured thoroughly of her country, "as if he
were a stuck pig!"

Hellyer, however, did not remain dumb.

"Beg pardon, mum," said he respectfully, doffing his sailor hat and
touching his forehead with his forefinger in nautical salute; "but, 'ave
you seen the Cap'en anywheres about here, mum?"

"You mean Captain Dresser, I suppose?" replied Mrs Gilmour, recovering
her loss of speech at the sound of his voice, at least so it seemed; the
good lady answering the coastguardsman's question in her usual way, by
asking him another!--"Eh, what, my man?"

"Yes, mum. I've a message for him from our commander, mum; and they
told me at the house as how he were over at Seaview, so, mum, I comes
across by the next boat."

"Well, he isn't very far-off, Hellyer," said Mrs Gilmour smiling; "I
didn't recognise you at first, sure, I was in such a terrible fright on
hearing the dog bark, least somebody was making off with our luncheon.
I'm really glad it's only you."

"And I'm glad, too, mum."

"So glad you're glad I'm glad!" whispered Nellie to her aunt, quoting
something she had seen in an old volume of _Punch_, and going into fits
of laughter. "Eh, auntie?"

"Hush, my dear," said Mrs Gilmour reprovingly, but obliged to laugh too
in spite of herself, although she tried to hide it for fear Hellyer
would think they were making fun of him; and she turned to him to say,
"We expect the Captain, Hellyer, every minute. Why, here he is!"

There he was, most decidedly; and he soon made his presence known.

"Hullo, you good people!" he shouted, while yet some little distance
off, as he made his way down the slope followed by Bob and Dick, "I hope
you've got something for us to eat, for we're all as hungry as hunters."

"Come on," answered Mrs Gilmour, "everyth