exact number was chosen. The gunner replied
seriously that it represented the bride's age.

At Uncle Icky's request, the yacht sailed first for the coast-guard
station. Here, he had no hesitation in proclaiming his new state and in
receiving the congratulations of his friends--for there were no small
boys to trouble. He explained the whereabouts of Shrimp and the hens,
with a request that they should be rescued from the barren stretch of
sand. The coast-guard men promised that the little flock should receive
a home at the station itself. Thus, the old fisherman's last concern
with the old life was happily ended. In a moment apart, he made a final
entry in the diary.

"Through with Shrimp and the shack, by heck! My weddin'-day! Hooray!"

It was owing to a request by Ethel to Van Dusen that the yacht's course
was to Portsmouth that night. Early next morning, before the others were
stirring, Captain Ichabod rowed Ethel in a small boat from _The
Hialdo's_ anchorage to the town. They were absent for a full three
hours. On her return, Ethel spoke with enthusiasm of the town's quaint
charm, but she gave no details of her visit there, not even to Roy. The
old fisherman said nothing at all of the trip, not even to Sarah Jones.

The wedded pair, though urged to prolong their stay on the yacht,
insisted on leaving when _The Hialdo_ reached Norfolk. They took with
them a promise from their new friends to come south again in order to
attend the opening of the new Inlet Hotel.

* * * * *

Colonel Marion was appointed to head a mission to France for study on
the war-methods there. On his return to New York from Texas, he urged
Ethel's immediate marriage, before his sailing. Naturally, there was no
objection on the part of the lovers, and the father was able to depart
tranquil in the assurance that his daughter would be safe in her
husband's care.

One morning a few months later, as Roy and Ethel sat at breakfast, the
servant brought him a letter with a Paris postmark, which was addressed
in the familiar hand of Colonel Marion. Somewhat surprised that the
letter should be to him rather than to Ethel, Roy opened it and read:

"DEAR ROY:

"Just a few lines to give you the surprise of your life. I have
found that our old friend, Doctor Garnet, was not lost in the
quicksands, as you supposed. On the contrary, he is here in France,
doing noble, wonderful work in the branch o