ad hitherto shut out the
view of Sandy Cove, and a few minutes later the rattling of the chain
announced that the voyage of the _Foam_ had terminated.

Immediately after, a boat was lowered, and Gascoyne was conveyed by a
party of marines to the shore, and lodged in the prison which had been
but recently occupied by our friend John Bumpus.

Mrs Stuart had purposely kept out of the way when she heard of the
arrival of the _Foam_. She knew Gascoyne so well that she felt sure he
would succeed in recapturing his schooner. But she also knew that in
doing this he would necessarily release Montague from his captivity, in
which case it was certain that the pirate captain, having promised to
give himself up, would be led on shore a prisoner. She could not bear
to witness this; but no sooner did she hear of his being lodged in jail
than she prepared to visit him.

As she was about to issue from her cottage, Henry met her and clasped
her in his arms. The meeting would have doubtless been a warmer one had
the mother known what a narrow escape her son had so recently had. But
Mrs Stuart was accustomed to part from Henry for weeks at a time, and
regarded this return in much the same light as former homecomings,
except in so far as he had news of their lost friends to give her. She
welcomed him therefore with a kiss and a glad smile, and then hurried
him into the house to inquire about the result of the voyage.

"I have already heard of your success in finding Alice and our friends.
Come, tell me more."

"Have you heard how nearly I was lost, mother?"

"Lost!" exclaimed the widow in surprise; "no, I have heard nothing of
that."

Henry rapidly narrated his escape from the wreck of the _Wasp_, and
then, looking earnestly in his mother's anxious face he said, slowly--

"But you do not ask for Gascoyne, mother. Do you know that he is now in
the jail?"

The widow looked perplexed. "I know it," said she. "I was just going
to see him when you came in."

"Ah! mother," said Henry, reproachfully, "why did you not tell me sooner
about Gascoyne? I--"

He was interrupted here by Corrie and Alice rushing into the room, the
latter of whom threw herself into the widow's arms and burst into tears,
while Master Corrie indulged in some eccentric bounds and cheers by way
of relieving his feelings. For some time Henry allowed them to talk
eagerly to each other; then he told Corrie and Alice that he had
something of importance to s