o that," said Peter, "for she's out, Miss
Priscilla and the young gentleman with the sore leg has her."

"Sir Lucius was partly in doubt," said the sergeant, "but it might be
the way you say, for I told him myself that the boat was gone. But his
lordship wouldn't be put off, and you're to hire another boat."

"What boat?"

"It was Joseph Antony Kinsella's he mentioned," said the sergeant, "when
I told him it was likely he'd be in with another load of gravel. But
sure one boat's as good as another so long as it is a boat. His lordship
wouldn't be turned aside from going."

"Them ones," said Peter Walsh, "must have their own way whatever
happens. It's pleasure sailing they're for, I'm thinking, among the
islands?"

"It might be," said the sergeant "I didn't ask."

"You could guess though."

"And if I could, do you think I'd tell you? It's too fond of asking
questions you are, Peter Walsh, about what doesn't concern you."

The sergeant turned his back and walked away. Peter Walsh watched him
enter the barrack. Then he himself went back to Sweeny's shop.

"They're wanting a boat," he said. "Joseph Antony Kinsella's or
another."

"And what for?"

"Unless it's to go out to Inishbawn," said Peter, "I don't know what
for."

"Bedamn then," said Sweeny, "there's no boat for them."

"I was thinking that myself."

"I wouldn't wonder," said Sweeney, "but something might stop Joseph
Antony Kinsella from coming in today after all, thought he's due with
another load of gravel."

"He mightn't come," said Patsy the smith. "There's many a thing could
happen to prevent him."

"What time were they thinking of starting?" said Sweeny.

"Twelve o'clock," said Peter Walsh.

"Patsy," said Sweeny, "let you take Brannigan's old punt and go down as
far as the stone perch to try can you see Joseph Antony Kinsella coming
in."

Patsy the smith was in a condition of great physical misery; but the
occasion demanded energy and self-sacrifice. He staggered down to the
slip, loosed the mooring rope of Brannigan's dilapidated punt and drove
her slowly down the harbour, waggling one oar over her stern.

"Let you go round the town," said Sweeny to Peter Walsh, "and find out
where the fellows is that came in with the boats that's at the quay this
minute. It's time they were off out of this."

Peter Walsh left the shop. In a minute or two he came back again.

"There's Miss Priscilla's boat," he said, "the _Blue Wanderer_. You're
fo