ain."

"Oh yes, please God, I shall come off again--you may depend on that, for
I've taken a great fancy to the men of the Short Blue, although I've
been so short a time with them--moreover, I owe service as well as
gratitude to the Mission for sending me here."

Accordingly next morning he set sail with a fair wind, and in due course
found himself on shore. He went straight to the old abode of Mrs
Dotropy, and, to his great satisfaction, found Ruth there. He also
found young Dalton, which was not quite so much to his satisfaction, but
Ruth soon put his mind at rest by saying--

"Oh! Captain Bream, I'm _so_ glad to have this unexpected visit,
because, for months and months past I have wanted you to go with me to
visit a particular place in Yarmouth, and you have always slipped
through my fingers; but I'm determined that you shan't escape again."

"That's odd, my dear," returned the captain, "because my object in
coming here is to take _you_ to a certain place in Yarmouth, and,
although I have not had the opportunity of letting you slip through my
fingers, I've no doubt you'd do so if you were tempted away by a bait
that begins with a D."

"How dare you, sir!" said Ruth, blushing, laughing, and frowning all at
once--"but no. Even D will fail in this instance--for my business is
urgent."

"Well, Miss Ruth, my business is urgent also. The question therefore
remains, which piece of business is to be gone about _first_."

"How can you be so ungallant? Are not a lady's wishes to be considered
before those of a gentleman? Come, sir, are you ready to go? _I_ am
quite ready, and fortunately D, to whom you dared to refer just now, has
gone to the post with a letter."

Although extremely anxious to have his mind set at rest, Captain Bream
gave in with his accustomed good-nature, and went out with Ruth to
settle _her_ business first.

Rejoiced to have her little schemes at last so nearly brought to an
issue, the eager girl hurried through the town till she came to one of
its narrow Rows.

"Well, my dear," said the captain, "it is at all events a piece of good
luck that so far you have led _me_ in the very direction I desired to
lead you."

"Indeed? Well, that is odd. But after all," returned Ruth with a
sudden feeling of depression, "it _may_ turn out to be a wild-goose
chase."

"_What_ may turn out to be a wild-goose chase?"

"This--this fancy--this hope of mine, but you shall know directly--
come."