Part 31 (2/2)

”We're aground,” said Bill

”I wonders where?” said Jimmie Grimm

”In harbour, anyhow,” said Billy Topsail

”And no insurance!” Archie added

There was no levity in this The boys were overawed They had been afraid, every one of them; and the mystery of their escape and whereabouts oppressed theot the anchor over the bow; and presently they had the cabin stove going and were drying off nobody turned in; they waited anxiously for the first light of day to disclose their surroundings

CHAPTER XXVIX

_In Which Opportunity is Afforded the Skipper of the ”Black Eagle” to Practice Villainy in the Fog and He Quiets His Scruples In Which, also, the Pony Islands and the Tenth of the Month Cole_, Skipper George Rumm and Tommy Bull, with the cook and three hands, all of To themselves, in a conspiracy to wreck the schooner for their own profit It was a simple plan; and with fortune to favour rascality, it could not go awry Old Toate had conceived and directed it The _Black Eagle_ was to be loaded with salt-cod froes in haste and at any cost She was then to be quietly taken off one of the out-of-the-way rocky little islands of the reo were to be taken ashore and stowed under tarpaulin: whereupon--with thick weather to corroborate a tale of wreck--the schooner was to be scuttled in deep water

”'Tis but a ement,” Tom Tulk had said ”Choose your weather--that's all”

Presently the castaere to appear in Conch in the schooner's quarter boat with a circuone, they would say; she had struck in a fog, ripped out her keel (it seemed), driven over the rock, filled and sunk At Conch, by this time, the mail-boat would be due on the southward trip

Skipper George and the clerk would proceed in grief and hu & Company; but the cook and the three hands would join Toate, whence with the old reprobate's schooner they would rescue fish and cargo from beneath the tarpaulins on the out-of-the-way rocky little island in the north To exchange crews at Twillingate and run the cargo to St

John's for quick sale was a small matter

”Barrin' accident,” Tom Tulk had said, ”it can't fail”

There, indeed, was a cold, logical plan ”Barrin' accident,” as Toe, it could not fail Let the weather be well chosen, the story consistent: that was all Was not Skipper George forever in danger of losing his schooner? Had not Sir Archibald already given hi?

They would say in St John's e had ”done it at last” nobody would be surprised; everybody would say, ”I told you so” And when old Tom Tulk came into harbour with a mysterious load of fish ould suspect him? Was not Tom Tulk known to be an eccentric?

Was there any accounting for what Tom Tulk would do? Tom Tulk would say, ”Mind your business!” and that would

”Choose your weather, Skipper George,” said To to hide the deed--with a gale to bear out the story and keep prying craft away--there would be ser of detection And what if folk did suspect? Let 'em prove it! _That's_ what the law dele_ put back to Conch fro the little _Spot Cash_, it was evident that the opportunity had come The weather was thick; there was a pro on the coast in a tee went gloomily to the cabin when the schooner rode once more at anchor It was time, now; he knew it, the clerk knew it, the cre it But Skipper George had no liking for the job; nor had the clerk, to tell the truth, nor had the cook, nor had the crew Rascals are not ainst fear and self-reproach But skipper and crew of the _Black Eagle_ were already co for fish on the coast had been unpardonable The skipper could not explain it in St John's; nor could the clerk excuse it

”We got t' go through with this, Toloomy skipper

”Have a dram,” the clerk replied ”I'm in sore need o' one meself”

It seemed the skipper was, too