ed the bed in the living-room,
and so soundly did Charley sleep that Mrs. Twig had breakfast nearly
ready before he awoke the following morning. They ate by candle-light,
and at the first break of dawn the two boys set out eagerly to look at
the rabbit snares, and within an hour returned with three big snowshoe
rabbits.

Skipper Twig was ready with his boat, in which he had stowed block and
fall rigging, hammer, nails, pieces of plank and an ax, and without
delay the three were off for the Duck's Head.

With the block and fall they were able to haul the boat out of the
water, and to their satisfaction, and the amazement of Skipper Zeb,
discovered that no serious damage had been done. A plank had been
broken, but ribs and timbers were uncracked. The boat was soon mended
and the new section of plank caulked with oakum, and shortly after
midday the trap boat was again afloat, and quite as serviceable as
before the accident.

"There she be, fine and shipshape as ever!" Skipper Zeb boomed. "Mother
were worryin' and stewin' herself half sick about she. That's the way
'tis with most worries, when you goes to the bottom of un. Nothin' to
worry about. There's another fix we gets out of."

"Fine and dandy!" exclaimed Charley. "I was sure you'd lost her, and I'm
so glad she's all right after all."

"Well, now," said Skipper Zeb, "this was once Mother was right when she
pesters me to come and look at un. I thinks we'd lost she sure, but I
says, 'That's the way o' things,' and I don't worry. Though we'd have
missed she at the fishin', we'd be gettin' on, and 'twasn't worth a
worry, whatever."

There was great rejoicing when Skipper Zeb and the boys arrived at
Double Up Cove early in the afternoon with the big trap boat, and the
small boat in tow. Mrs. Twig and Violet saw them coming, and were at the
beach to meet them, and Mrs. Twig actually shed tears of joy.

"Snug and tight as ever!" announced Skipper Zeb, as the prow touched the
shore. "We gets she all fixed up, Mother. I'm thinkin' you knows more
about boats than I does."

"I'm _so_ glad!" and Mrs. Twig's round face was wreathed in smiles while
glad tears glistened in her eyes. "Now you and the lads must be
wonderful hungry, for 'tis near two hours after dinner time, and
dinner's been waitin' this long while."

"Aye, hungry as seven bears and as happy and perky as a cock pa'tridge,"
boomed Skipper Zeb. "We'll make the boats fast, and be right up."

What an appetite