teach you how."

"Oh, of course, Tom. How thoughtless of me! I've been so anxious; but,
of course, you must be very hungry! I'll go and get some bread and
cheese. And you'd like a mug of beer, wouldn't you?"

"Well, Master Aleck, I wouldn't say no to a drop if it was here."

"I'll go at once, Tom, without you want me to hold the boards while you
nail them."

"All right, sir. Nay, nay, don't make a blaze. Just rake the ashes
together; any little ember will do to light my pipe. I say, Master
Aleck, we haven't had a single boy nigh us."

"No, not one. How strange!"

"Not it, sir. Just shows as they all know about the boat, and whose
game it was."

Aleck hurried off and obtained the simple provisions needed, and
returned to find the last nails being driven triumphantly into the boat.

"There you are, Master Aleck," cried Tom, "and I warrant she won't leak
a spoonful. There's the tide just beginning to lap up round the stern,
so we'll get the rudder on again, step the mast, and put all ship-shape
ready for a start, and if it's all the same to you I'll just light up my
pipe at once, and smoke it as we get the tackle back in its place."

"Go on, then," said Aleck, and, after filling the bowl of his pipe, the
sailor went to the glowing embers of the fire, one of which he picked up
with his hardened thumb and finger, lit the tobacco, and began smoking
away.

His first act was to scoop up a little water in the boat's baler and
extinguish the fire.

"Too hot as it is, Master Aleck. We can feel the way to our mouths, and
I'm allus mortal feared of sparks blowing about among boats and sheds."

The shipping of the rudder, the stepping of the mast, and fastening of
the boat's grapnel to the ring-bolt followed. Then oars, boat-hook, and
ropes were laid in, and the pair seated themselves in the darkness, to
begin discussing their much-needed meal, listening the while to the
whispering and lapping of the water, Aleck thinking anxiously of how
uneasy his uncle would be.

"How soon shall we be able to start, Tom?" he said.

There was a strange sound which made Aleck start.

"What?" he cried. "What's the matter?"

"Beg pardon, Master Aleck; couldn't say it no better. Mouth was full o'
hard crust."

"How long before we start?"

"Good hour, sir. There's a lot o' shallow yonder."

"Oh!" cried Aleck, impatiently. "Let's get some of the fishermen to
come and launch us."

"I don't think you'd find anyone