turbance came.

While we ate a hasty supper, therefore, Bilkins saw that the things we
should want were stored in the small boat: food, ammunition, canvas for
a lean-to, matches, utensils of sundry kinds--in fact, the necessaries.
He had attended to my camping outfits before, and possessed a genius for
knowing what to include. Only when this was under way, and the mate had
thrice assured Gates of his ability to navigate the _Whim_ on her
ticklish course down the coast, did the old captain feel satisfied to
join us at table.

He brought with him a large chart that he pinned to the wall and,
nodding to it as he tucked a napkin under his chin, said:

"You should take that, sir. It shows scarce more'n the shore line, but
the shore's where you'll be, and not far inland. Here's Little Cove," he
touched the spot with his fork. "In harf an hour we'll lay outside it,
not being able to get in, and there we'll anchor to put you off. Who'll
you be taking with you, sir?"

"Tommy and I thought we'd make a sort of reconnoissance first, and
Bilkins says he wants to go as cook," I answered. "In a day or two,
weather permitting, we'll sail the small boat up to Big Cove for a
council of war."

"Well, sir," he said, shaking his head, "just go slow, that's all I
arsk. Don't start anything. There's no use two young fellows kicking up
a racket without their friends, that's what I say. So just poke around,
but keep out of sight; learn all you want, but don't start anything. If
you carn't learn it all, be satisfied with harf; then the rest of us
will take that and make a whole of it in no time. Am I right,
Professor?"

"You are right, _mon Capitaine_, if they will mind you. But will they? A
chance comes for to--what my boy Tommy calls plug--that old sinner, and
so they will jump to a fight. Fight! Bah! How many fools give a life for
one who cannot give a reason!"

"There's reason enough here," Tommy laughed. "But we'll promise to be
careful, if that satisfies you."

When at last we dropped anchor half a mile outside the entrance of
Little Cove our deck became active. I went off first with the supplies
to choose a spot where they should be stored, although in such a black
night this might have been left haphazard to the men. But one never
believes, on occasions so momentous as pitching camp, that others know a
jot about it but oneself--to this there are practically no exceptions.

While being rowed shoreward I noticed that the wind ha