the old sailor at tea in his little cottage.
Rushing somewhat wildly into the room, Guy said,--

"Mr. Bunker, have you seen my sister since we left?"

"Your sister, skipper?" said the old salt. "Shiver my topsails if I've
seen any thing in the shape of a gal, except this old craft of mine here,
since you all left your wagon early this afternoon."

"Then she and her cousin are _lost_," said Guy, driving his hands deep
down into his pockets, casting his eyes to the ground, knitting his brows,
and walking out into the open air again.

"Are they there?" "Has the old cove seen them?" "What does old Timbertoe
say?" with half a dozen other questions, greeted Guy as he crossed the
threshold.

"Hasn't seen their shadow. They must be lost," replied Guy, doggedly.

"Is that spunky little Canada thistle you call Charlie in the house?"
inquired Mr. Sherwood.

"I didn't see him. Isn't he in the wagon?"

"No sign of him that I can see," replied Mr. Sherwood; "but here's Mr.
Bunker--Mr. Bunker, where is the little boy we left in your care?"

"I left him making sand-cakes down on the beach a few minutes ago," said
old Joe.

All eyes were now turned to the beach, but no Charlie was to be seen. Old
Joe looked uneasy as his eye swept the shore. Very soon he gave his
waistband an unusual hitch, brought down his wooden leg with great force,
and said:--

"As sure as my name's Joe Bunker, the little fellow is gone on a cruise in
the Little Susan!"

"Gone on a cruise? What, alone?" asked Mr. Sherwood, looking a little
pale.

"Yes, alone, or I'm no sailor."

Down to the shore of the pond they hurried. Sure enough, the Little Susan
was gone. Charlie, in opposition to Mr. Bunker's command, had gone aboard
and, sitting amidships, had rocked her to and fro until her painter had
got loose, and the wind, which blew off shore, had drifted the boat out on
to the pond, where she was now visible, with Charlie's head just above the
bulwarks, steadily setting down towards a a point about a mile distant.

"To the Point! Make for 'Long Point!'" shouted old Joe.

Away ran the boys, with old Joe hobbling after them, Guy only remaining
behind with the girls and Mr. Sherwood. Charlie's danger had for the
moment driven all thought of Jessie and Emily from their minds. Now,
however, they began to consider what was to be done to recover the lost
cousins.

"I see them!" shouted Guy, pointing to the hill-top in the distance, and
starting to meet