her. Indeed, had a date been
fixed, they would not have been any better off, for they were without
any means of keeping an account of the days, except by observing the
sun and moon.

The days grew steadily longer and warmer, and yet no schooner appeared.
Hope long deferred did not make the hot temper of the wreckers any more
amiable, and Eric, worried as he was with his own troubles, found life
harder than ever. Moreover, a new danger presently appeared.

The majority of the wreckers showed entire indifference toward him. He
and his big dog were Ben's belongings, and so long as they got in
nobody's way they were let alone. But when day after day and week
after week slipped by, and the schooner did not arrive, the boy began
to notice a change. Ugly, suspicious, threatening glances were cast
upon him, and interchanged. Beyond a doubt, the peril of his position
was alarmingly on the increase.

The explanation was simple enough. Like all men of their class, the
wreckers were intensely superstitious, and the wily villain Evil-Eye,
though indirectly, shrewdly seized upon the delay of the schooner to
strike at Eric. He suggested to the men that the boy's presence was
the cause of the vessel's non-appearance. He had brought them
ill-luck, for not a wreck had come their way since his life had been
spared. Now he was playing them another scurvy trick and, by some
witchery, interfering with the carrying out of their plans.

The seed so craftily sown took root at once. Only the curious feeling,
half-fear, half-admiration, that they held toward Ben saved Eric for a
time from falling a victim to their superstition.

Even his influence would not have availed much longer, had not, one
fine morning in May, the welcome cry of "Sail ho! sail ho!" rung out
lustily from a watcher on the highest hill. Soon the broad sails of a
schooner appeared.

Everything else was forgotten in the joy occasioned by this sight. But
Evil-Eye, again foiled in his base designs, snarled savagely at Eric,
and swore that he would have his own way yet.

The water being too shallow, the schooner hove-to about a mile from
shore, and fired a gun to announce her arrival. But that was not
necessary. All the inhabitants of the island were already on the beach
to welcome her. Presently a boat was lowered, and three persons
getting in, it was rowed swiftly ashore. The breakers were
successfully passed with the aid of a number of the wreckers, who