speechless; the captain
smiled and Minnie laughed, but when Ruby put his hand into another
pocket and began to draw forth golden sovereigns, and pour them into his
mother's lap, the captain became supremely amazed, the old woman
laughed, and,--so strangely contradictory and unaccountable is human
nature,--Minnie began to cry.

Poor girl! the tax upon her strength had been heavier than anyone knew,
heavier than she could bear, and the sorrow of knowing, as she had come
to know, that it was all in vain, and that her utmost efforts had failed
to "keep the wolf from the door", had almost broken her down. Little
wonder, then, that the sight of sudden and ample relief upset her
altogether.

But her tears, being tears of joy, were soon and easily dried--all the
more easily that it was Ruby who undertook to dry them.

Mrs Brand sat up late that night, for there was much to tell and much
to hear. After she had retired to rest the other three continued to
hold converse together until grey dawn began to appear through the
chinks in the window-shutters. Then the two men rose and went out,
while Minnie laid her pretty little head on the pillow beside Mrs
Brand, and sought, and found, repose.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

THE SCENE CHANGES--RUBY IS VULCANISED.

As Captain Ogilvy had predicted, Ruby was at once engaged as an
assistant blacksmith on the Bell Rock. In fact, they were only too glad
to get such a powerful, active young fellow into their service; and he
was shipped off with all speed in the sloop _Smeaton_, with a few others
who were going to replace some men who had become ill and were obliged
to leave.

A light westerly breeze was blowing when they cast off the moorings of
the sloop.

"Goodbye, Ruby," said the captain, as he was about to step on the pier.
"Remember your promise, lad, to keep quiet, and don't try to get ashore,
or to hold communication with anyone till you hear from me."

"All right, uncle, I won't forget, and I'll make my mind easy, for I
know that my case is left in good hands."

Three hours elapsed ere the _Smeaton_ drew near to the Bell Rock.
During this time, Ruby kept aloof from his fellow-workmen, feeling
disposed to indulge the sad thoughts which filled his mind. He sat down
on the bulwarks, close to the main shrouds, and gazed back at the town
as it became gradually less and less visible in the faint light of
morning. Then he began to ponder his unfortunate circumstances, and
tried to