nging now, though
I used to be a grand one at it before---- '

He stopped, and they went on in silence.

'Dear Jack,' said Estelle, earnestly, as they came out of the gorge on
to the beach, 'when I am quite big and old, you will let me help you to
be happy again, won't you? Perhaps I shall be able to put all your
unhappiness away then, and Goody's too.

Jack shook his head with a sigh.

'There are some things which can never be done away with,' he said,
sadly. 'We cannot undo them, and their consequences will last as long as
we live. Happy for us if they don't drag us down for ever. But thank you
all the same, little Missie, for it's your kind heart that makes you
wish it.'

(_Continued on page 234._)

[Illustration: "Jack took Estelle in his arms and made his way to the
cave."]

[Illustration: "'Don't go--don't go!'"]

THE GIANT OF THE TREASURE CAVES.

(_Continued from page 231._)

CHAPTER XIII.

'Goody,' said Estelle, as they sat round the blazing logs, 'why did
Madame Bricolin call Jack the Giant of the Hospice de la Providence? I
don't think it half so nice a name as the Giant of the Treasure Caves.
There is something romantic, like a fairy story, in a treasure cave.
Don't you think so, Jack?'

The sailor was standing up to separate the nets he was about to mend.
They lay in a tangled heap at his feet, and it looked to Estelle as if
he would never have room enough to spread them out, large as the kitchen
was. Yet he must do so if he wanted to find the torn places. No such
difficulty presented itself to Jack's mind, however. He laughed as he
drew himself up to his full height of six feet seven inches.

'I haven't read many fairy stories, Missie,' he said; 'but treasure
caves, such as ours, don't figure in them, I fancy. Our treasure is
mostly smugglers' stuff. Some day I will take you to see them, and some
of them will astonish you.'

'Oh, yes. Do take me. I love caves. I know of some---- ' She stopped,
hesitating. 'I am sure I do--but where? Did we go to some once?'

'Only those we went to to-day.'

'And they are the treasure caves?'

'Yes; but the real thing is below, where you have not yet grown strong
enough to go.'

Little did he guess under what circumstances he would show her that
mysterious cave, the entrance to which was his secret.

'But,' went on Estelle, 'you have not told me why Madame Bricolin calls
you a giant---- '

'I suppose,' answered his mother, with a glance of