yously; and he gave Will a
hearty clap upon the shoulder in the eagerness of his delight. For from
far away, where the dim light rose and fell upon the waters, there came
an answering shrill chirruping whistle.

Then Dick gave two short whistles.

Two exactly similar came in response.

"I knew he would be," cried Dick; "but he'll be very angry, I suppose."

"Uncle Abram will be there too, I should say," said Will quietly.

"Why, your father won't be angry, my lad," said Josh after a few
minutes' thought. "If he be it'll be with Josh, which is me, for not
keeping a bright lookout. He can't row you for being run down, for you
wasn't neither captain nor the crew. Hillo! ahoy--ah!" he answered in
return to a hail.

"I say!" said Dick suddenly; "the lights are going the other way."

"Right, my lad; and so they have been this quarter hour past."

"Why's that?" said Dick.

"Because the tide's ebbing fast."

"And what does that mean?" cried Dick.

"As if they didn't overhaul us we should be carried out to sea."

"But will they find us, Will?"

"No fear of that. See how plain the light's getting. Ahoy--ah! ahoy--
ah! They're not above a quarter of a mile away."

Soon after the dipping of the oars could be seen as they threw up the
lambent light in flashes, while an ever-widening track of sparkling
water was plain to the eyes. Then the voices came asking questions.

"Ahoy! Who's aboard there?"

"Young gent Dick!" yelled Josh back.

"Who else?"

"Will Marion!"

"Who else? Is that Josh?"

"Ahoy, lad!"

"Hurrah!" came from the boat three times, and the oars made the water
flash again as they were more vigorously plied.

"That's your sort, Master Dick!" cried Josh. "That's Cornish, that is!
They chaps is as glad at finding us as--as--as--"

"We should be at finding them," said Will.

"Ay; that's it!"

And so it seemed, for a few minutes more and the boat was alongside, and
the wet and shivering fishers were seated in the stern-sheets, wrapped
in oilskins and great-coats, their boat made fast behind, and Dick's
hand tight in that of his father, who said no word of reproach; while,
after a long pull against tide, with the boat towing behind, they were
landed at the head of the little harbour, where a crowd of the
simple-hearted folk, many having lanthorns, saluted them with a hearty
cheer, and any amount of hospitality bright have been theirs.

For these dwellers by the sea, who follow their