ard at the books."

"I'll trust you for that," said Ruth.

Now, while these little plans were being arranged, an event was pending
in the North Sea fleet which merits particular notice.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

RUN DOWN IN A FOG--CAPTAIN BREAM ACTS SURPRISINGLY.

One day a fishing-smack was on the eve of quitting the Short Blue fleet
for its little holiday of a week in port. It was the _Sparrow_, of
which Jim Frost was master. A flag was flying to indicate its
intention, and invite letters, etcetera, for home, if any of the crews
should feel disposed to send them.

Several boats put off from their respective smacks in reply to the
signal. One of these belonged to Singing Peter.

"Glad to see you, Peter," said Jim Frost as the former leaped on the
_Sparrow's_ deck.

"Same to you, lad. I wish you a pleasant spell ashore, and may the
Master be with you," returned Peter.

"The Master is sure to be with me," replied Frost, "for has he not said,
`I will never leave thee?' Isn't it a fine thing, Peter, to think that,
whatever happens, the Lord is here to guard us from evil?"

"Ay, Jim, an' to take us home when the time comes."

"`Which is far better,'" responded Jim.

"You'll not get away to-night," remarked Peter as he gazed out upon the
sea. "It's goin' to fall calm."

"No matter. I can wait."

"What say ye, lad, to a hymn?" said Peter.

"I'm your man," replied Jim, with a laugh, "I thought it wouldn't be
long before Singin' Peter would want to raise his pipe."

"He can't help it, d'ee see," returned Peter, answering the laugh with a
smile; "if I didn't sing I'd blow up. It's my safety-valve, Jim, an' I
like to blow off steam when I gets alongside o' like-minded men."

"We're all like-minded here. Fetch my accordion," said Jim, turning to
one of his men.

In a few minutes a lively hymn was raised in lusty tones which rolled
far and wide over the slumbering sea. Then these like-minded men
offered up several prayers, and it was observed that Jim Frost was
peculiarly earnest that night. Of course they had some more hymns, for
as the calm was by that time complete, and it was not possible for any
sailing vessel to quit the fleet, there was no occasion to hurry.
Indeed there is no saying how long these iron-framed fishermen would
have kept it up, if it had not been for a slight fog which warned the
visitors to depart.

As the night advanced the fog thickened, so that it was not possible to
see m