ncommon fine night on the water. I believe
I'll take a seat in your boat, with your permission. I used to like
fishing myself when I was young and spry."

"And leave mother alone!" objected David.

"She's been out with me many a night on the Sound. She's brave, and
won't mind a good south-west wind, such as I dare say breaks in on the
shore this minute. Go and call her."

And so the family started forth to go fishing.

This was a night the two brothers had been looking forward to during
weeks of earnest labor, and now--well, it could not be helped, and
there was not a moment in which to hold counsel.

Mr. Bushnell had planned this surprise early in the day, but had not
told his wife until evening. Then he announced his determination to
"learn what all these midnight and all-night absences did mean."

As the Lady Fenwick came out from the Pochaug River into the Sound,
the south-west wind brought crested waves to shore. The wind was
increasing, and, to the great relief of David and Ezra, Mr. Bushnell
gave the order to turn back into the river.

The next day David Bushnell asked his mother whether or not she knew
the reason his father had proposed to go out with them the night
before.

"Yes, David," was the reply, "I do."

"Will you tell me?"

"He does not believe that you and Ezra go fishing at all."

"What do you believe about it, mother?"

"I believe in _you_, David, and that when you have anything to tell to
me, I shall be glad to listen."

"And father does not trust me yet; I am sorry," said David, turning
away. And then, as by a sudden impulse, he returned and said:

"If you can trust _me_ so entirely, mother, _we_ can trust _you_.
To-day, two gentlemen will be here. You will please be ready to go out
in the boat with us whenever they come."

"Where to?"

"To my fishing ground, mother."

The strangers arrived, and were presented to Mrs. Bushnell as Dr. Gale
and his friend, Mr. Franklin.

At three of the clock the little family set off in the row-boat. Down
at Pochaug harbor, there was Mr. Bushnell hallooing to them to be
taken on board.

"I saw my family starting on an unknown voyage," he remarked, as the
boat approached the shore as nearly as it could, while he waded out to
meet it.

"Ah, Friend Gale, is that you?" he said, as with dripping feet he
stepped in. "And whither bound?" he added, dropping into a seat.

"For the far and distant land of the unknown, Mr. Bushnell. Permit me
to in