ed Hellyer and the other
coastguardsmen on duty at the spot by helping them bravely in dragging
out of the clutches of the waves everything that floated near enough
inshore for him to jump at and seize.

"We'd better go home now," said the Captain, when the vessel separated
amidships, her funnel and masts falling over into the water. "There's
nothing more to see now, poor old ship!"

He spoke quite sadly, as if he had lost a friend; and the others, too,
seemed equally affected by the scene, even Bob turning his back on the
beach without a murmur at their going indoors so early, as he would
otherwise have done; this being the young gentleman's usual plaint.
But, if depressed for the moment, on reaching "the Moorings" the
thermometer of their spirits jumped suddenly to fever-heat.

Sarah, "the good Sarah," opened the door, as she usually did; but she
appeared to perform the task on the present occasion with even more than
her usual alacrity, while her face wore a pleased expression that had
not visited it since the composition of that celebrated poem in honour
of her memory! She actually beamed with delight and looked "bursting,
aye, bursting with good news!" as the Captain said afterwards.

"Why, whatever is the matter, Sarah?" asked Mrs Gilmour. "Speak, my
good girl!"

She paid no attention, however, to her mistress.

"Oh, Master Bob--oh, Miss Nell!" she exclaimed. "Who do you think have
come, and is now in the house?"

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

ON BOARD THE OLD "VICTORY."

Bob and Nellie both stared at Sarah in surprise.

They thought, for the moment, the poor girl had lost her wits!

An inkling of the truth, however, flashed across their minds the next
instant; and, pushing past the almost incoherent Sarah, who said
something which neither of them caught the sense of, the two rushed into
the lighted hall in a flurry of excitement.

Here the sight of several corded trunks and other luggage, which had not
been there when they went out of the house earlier in the evening, at
once confirmed their joyous anticipations.

"Hurrah!" cried Bob, giving vent to his feelings first. "Dad and mother
are here at last!"

Nell, though, got ahead of him in greeting the new-comers.

"Oh, mamma!" she said, dashing towards the door of the dining-room which
opened into the hall and meeting half-way a stately lady who was
advancing with open arms. "My own dear mamma!"

The Captain and Mrs Gilmour had now come into th