to join the others, he determined
to bend his steps in the direction of the coastguard-station, with the
hope of finding Hellyer there to cheer his drooping spirits.

Bob's fates, though, appeared singularly unpropitious for him this
morning; for on his arriving anon at the little cabin beyond the castle,
which was the Captain's regular trysting-place, lo, and behold, a
strange man was there, who told him that Hellyer was "off duty," and it
would not be his turn "on" again until late in the afternoon. Here was
another misfortune!

But there was "balm in Gilead" in store for Bob; for, hardly had the
long face that he pulled on learning the unwelcome news of Hellyer's
absence merged again into the ordinary round contour with which his
friends were familiar, than, whom should he see coming along the beach,
only a little way off, but--who should you think? Why, Dick!

Yes, he had been into Portsmouth, he explained, to take a letter to the
Dockyard for the Captain; and now, also in pursuance of the old sailor's
orders, he was about going off to the cutter, which lay at her moorings
abreast of the coastguard-station, and only about a cable's length out,
so as to be within easy reach, so that they could haul her up on the
shingle in the event of any sudden shifting wind rendering her anchorage
unsafe.

Bob at once flew to him with open arms, so to speak; and so did Rover
too, the sagacious animal always reflecting his young master's moods,
and having turned as woebegone as a naturally cheerful dog could be
since he noticed Bob's being mopey, he had now resumed his proper tone
of bark and mien, wagging his tail at the sight of Dick and thus
reciprocating Bob's feelings.

"Hullo, Dick!" said the latter, when the young yachtsman had approached
near enough for them to speak without getting to each other. "What are
you going to do aboard?"

"To clean out the yacht ready for another trip, Master Bob. The Cap'en
told me to get her done afore he come back."

"That's jolly!" exclaimed Bob, brightening up at the prospect of some
sort or any sort of expedition in lieu of the one he had missed. "May I
come with you?"

"Ees, sure-ly, Master Bob," returned Dick. "But how comes it you bain't
a-gone wi' the Cap'en and t'others?"

Bob did not like any allusion to this delicate subject.

"I was too late," he said abruptly, changing the conversation at once.
"How are you going off to the cutter, I see she has got the dinghy
t