nce, deacon," he said, as they
walked towards the wharf, where the whale-boat was all ready for a start.
"There is not an hour to lose. Now I think of it, the Flash, captain
Smith, is to take a cargo of oil to Boston, and sails to-morrow. I can
write a line by her, as it is ten to one she will go into the Hole. All
our craft get into that Hole, or into Tarpaulin Cove, before they venture
across the Shoals; and a letter addressed to any person of the name of
Daggett might find the right man. I'll write it this very evening."

The announcement of this intention threw the deacon into a cold-sweat, but
he did not think it prudent to say aught against it. He had bought the Sea
Lion, engaged Roswell Gardiner, and otherwise expended a large sum of
money, in the expectation of handling those doubloons, to say nothing of
the furs; and here was a chance of all his calculations being defeated by
the interference of impertinent and greedy relatives! There was no remedy
but patience, and this the deacon endeavoured to exercise.

Deacon Pratt did not accompany the doctor beyond the limits of his own
orchard. It was not deemed seemly for a member of the meeting to be seen
walking out on the Sabbath, and this was remembered in season to prevent
neighbourly comments. It is true, the _doctor_ might furnish an apology;
but, your strictly religious people, when they undertake the care of other
people's consciences, do not often descend to these particulars.

No sooner had Gardiner and the physician re-embarked than the deacon
returned to the cottage of the Widow White. Here he had another long and
searching discourse with the sick mariner. Poor Daggett was wearied with
the subject; but Dr. Sage's predictions of an early termination of the
case, and the possibility that kinsmen might cross over from the
'Vineyard,' in order to learn what the long absent man had in his
possession, acted on him as keen incentives. By learning the most material
facts now, the Sea Lion might get so far ahead of all competitors as to
secure the prizes, even should Daggett let others into the secret, and
start another vessel on the same expedition. His own schooner was nearly
ready for sea, whereas time would be needed in order to make an entire
outfit.

But Daggett did not appear to be disposed to be more communicative than
heretofore. He went over the narrative of the discovery of the
sealing-island, and gave a graphic account of the number and tame
conditio