od-bye!" and Toby hurried down the ladder and into
his boat.
Charley stood at the rail watching Toby row his old punt back, until the
ship passed into the tickle and shut from view Toby, the rocky hillside,
the clinging cabins and Skipper Zeb with Mrs. Twig and Violet at the
landing still waving their farewell to him.
"Where you going?" the steward's question met Charley as he turned from
the rail.
"To St. John's. Don't you know me? I'm Charley Norton who came down with
you last fall."
It was several minutes before the steward could convince himself that
this upstanding, clear-eyed, bronze-skinned fellow, attired like a
Labradorman, was the pale, listless unhappy lad they had lost the
previous fall. Then he hastened to Captain Barcus with the news, and
Captain Barcus and the whole crew gathered around Charley and welcomed
him as they would have welcomed a returned hero, to his great confusion.
"Now a wireless to your father!" beamed Captain Barcus, when Charley had
been duly greeted.
* * * * *
Mr. Bruce Norton was in his private office on William Street, in New
York City, dictating his morning mail, when a boy laid a telegram upon
his desk. He finished the letter he was dictating, before opening the
message, and then he read:
"Will arrive in St. John's July twentieth, on mail boat from
Labrador. Had a great winter. Killed a wolf and shot a white bear.
Wire how you and mother are. Love to you both. Cannot wait to see
you.
"CHARLEY."
Mr. Norton was upon his feet before he had read the last line. He
stuffed the message into his pocket, seized his hat, and as he bolted
from his office he shouted to his secretary, who now filled the place
formerly occupied by Mr. Henry Wise:
"Get sleeper reservations for Mrs. Norton and myself to St. John's at
once!"
"For to-day?" asked the secretary.
"Yes! Yes! First train possible!" and Mr. Norton disappeared in an
elevator.
When Mr. Norton broke the good news to Mrs. Norton a half hour later,
the two declared it was the happiest day of their whole life. But when,
a week later, they greeted Charley in St. John's when he disembarked from
the mail boat, and he threw his arms around his mother, perhaps a
greater height of happiness was reached.
Before they left St. John's, Mr. Norton contracted for the best motor
boat that he could buy, to be shipp
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