Part 15 (1/2)

Later in the afternoon he thought of the ducks, and pa.s.sing out upon the marsh walked until he discovered several feeding among the wild rice, when he started to creep up on them with infinite cunning.

Reaching at last a bunch of gra.s.s as near as he could hope to go he waited until two were close together, when he fired his right barrel.

As the remaining mallard started to rise in a clumsy fas.h.i.+on Darry gave him the benefit of the other barrel.

When Mrs. Peake saw what fine birds he had secured she was loud in her praise, for their coming meant at least one good meal without cost, and every cent counted in this little family.

Again Darry busied himself with his pelts.

He was pleased to find how much easier the job seemed after his experience of the preceding day; and when the skins had been stretched upon the boards they had a cleaner look that satisfied the eye.

After that he plucked the three ducks for the good woman, saving her a task she never fancied, and winning her thanks.

Then he looked after the gun, believing that it is wise to always keep such a weapon in the best of order, since it serves its owner faithfully when called upon.

”I had some visitors while you were away,” announced Mrs. Peake, when after supper they were seated by the table.

Darry looked up from his work of whittling more stretching boards, interested at once.

CHAPTER XIV

THE LONELY VIGIL OF THE COAST PATROL

Mrs. Peake looked amused.

”A young man called on me,” she said.

Dairy's face lighted up.

”It must have been Mr. Singleton!” he exclaimed, eagerly.

She nodded in the affirmative.

”Did he come to see me?” he asked.

”No, I rather think he wanted to have a little talk with me. You see he guessed from what you told him that it all was because of me you wouldn't go with him, and he just dropped in, he said, to have a neighborly chat, and let me know how much he was interested in a boy by the name of Darry.”

”That was fine of him. What did you think, wasn't he all I said?”

”As nice a young gentleman as I ever met. He asked a lot of questions about you.”

”Of course. He had a right to. When a gentleman asks a strange fellow to go off with him on a cruise it's only business for him to learn all he can about whether the other is honest and all that. You told him I never touched liquor, I hope?”

”He never asked about such things. In fact, it was all in connection with your past he seemed interested.”

”My past--how could he be interested in that? He never saw me before.”

Yet, strange to say, the fact seemed to thrill Darry through and through; for he was still hugging that hope to his heart, and wondering if some day he might not be lucky enough to learn who and what he was.

”Well, all I can say is that he kept asking me all about you came here, why you were Darry, and what your other name might be; when he learned that you never knew who your parents were he seemed to be strangely agitated. He didn't take me into his confidence; but I'm morally convinced that Mr. Singleton believes he is on the track of some sort of discovery. I heard him ask Miss Pepper, who was hurrying over, seeing I had a visitor, if there was a telegraph office in Ashley; and when he left he was saying to himself: 'I must let her know--this may be important.' It would be a fine thing for you, my boy, if circ.u.mstances brought you face to face with some rich relative so soon after you landed on the soil of America.”