Part 36 (1/2)

”Billy's a good boy,” said the skipper

Little Donald North--who had all along been a thoroughly serviceable but inconspicuoustears

”Wisht she'd 'urry up,” Bagg whimpered

”_There she is!_” Skipper Bill roared

It was true There she was Far off at sea--away beyond Grief Head at the entrance to Hook-and-Line--the smoke of a stea day It was the _Grand Lake_

There was no other steamer on the coast Cap'n Hand--Archie's friend, Cap'n Hand, hoe of the stout old _Dictator_--was in command She would soon make harbour

Archie's load vanished; from despair he was lifted suddenly into a wild hilarity which nothing would satisfy but a roaring wrestle with Skipper Bill The _Grand Lake_ would presently be in; she would proceed full steam to Jolly Harbour, she would pass a line to the _Spot Cash_, she would jerk the little schooner from her rocky berth on Blow-Me-Down, and presently that selfsa it for St John's

But was it the _Grand Lake_?

”Lads,” the skipper declared, when the steamer was in view, ”it sure is the _Grand Lake_”

They watched her

”Queer!” Skipper Bill muttered, at last

”What's queer?” asked Archie

”She should be turnin' in,” the skipper replied ”What's Cap'n Hand thinkin' about?”

”Wisht she'd 'urry up,” said Bagg

The boys were bewildered The steamer should by this time have had her nose turned towards Hook-and-Line To round Grief Head she was keeping aly far out to sea

”Wonderful queer!” said the anxious skipper

The _Grand Lake_ steamed past Hook-and-Line and disappeared in the mist Evidently she was in haste Presently there was not so much as a trail of smoke to be descried at sea

CHAPTER xxxIII

_In Which Billy Topsail, Besieged by Wreckers, Sleeps on Duty and Thereafter Finds Exercise For His Wits In Which, also, a Lighted Candle is Suspended Over a Keg of Powder and Precipitates a Critical Moment While Billy Topsail Turns Pale With Anxiety_

At Jolly Harbour, meantime, where Billy Topsail kept watch, except for the flutter of an apron or skirt when the won of life at the cottages the livelong day

No boats ran out to the fishi+ng-grounds; no men were on the flakes; the salmon nets and lobster-traps were not hauled Billy prepared a spirited defense with the guns, which he charged heavily with powder, o to let his wits or his ar to developments