Part 25 (2/2)

Overcome with awe and wonder, and tiers, Bobby kept hih he knew that presently he would be called upon to present hiht escape from the floe, for in all probability no other opportunity would co with excitement, he remained concealed behind an ice hummock until the seal hunters in advance had nearly reached him, and further concealment was impossible Then he stepped boldly out

The effect of Bobby's appearance was instantaneous and wonderful A ure apparently rise out of the ice itself The man turned about and wildly broke for the boats Then another and another took one terrified glance at the supposed apparition, and tarrying not, turned about to compete with the first in a mad race for the boats Shouts of ”Ghost! Ghost!” filled the air, and then the stah after the manner of panic-stricken crowds, perhaps none but the first two or three had the slightest idea why or frouns were still soan One of these e, the other many years his senior They were dressed after the manner of sports crew They did not join in the staht and confusion, but in utter astonishment looked for its cause in the direction froalone and no less astonished at what had occurred than themselves, and more than half inclined to run as fast in the opposite direction as the sealers had run toward their boats

”Uncle, there's an Eski Bobby's sealskin garments, but at that distance unable to note that his features holly unlike those of an Eskih!” said the olderto see any one, and they've taken hihost! Come on, Edward Let us interview hiet out here on the floe?” asked Edward, as they set out toward Bobby ”We're a long way from land”

”I don't know,” said his co way after seals, and he's probably on a hunting expedition”

”Why, he hasn't the features of an Eski chap!” said Edward, in an undertone, as they drew near Bobby, who had overcome his inclination to run and had not reeted the olderdistance

”Good-ht you were an Eskihost You gave thehten theetically

”I only wanted them to take ,” explained Bobby ”The ice broke loose and cut Jimmy and me off froet on it? We thought perhaps you were hunting”

”I was hunting,” explained Bobby, ”but now I'm adrift I'm Bobby Zachariah, from Abel's Bay The ice broke loose and cut Jimmy and me off from Skipper Ed, and Jimmy's drowned--”

Tears came into Bobby's eyes and he choked at the recollection

”I'm Frederick Winslow,” said theBobby's hand, ”and this is my nepheard Norman We do not knohere Abel's Bay is, nor who Skipper Ed and Jio with us to the shi+p, and then you can tell us about it, and there'll be a way to send you home to Abel's Bay”

”Edward Norman!” exclaimed Bobby ”Why, that's Skipper Ed's name!”

”Who is Skipper Ed?” inquired Mr Winslow ”But never mind Don't explain now YouCome with us”

”I've been over a week--nearly teeks, I think,” said Bobby, ”but I'et loo_”

Then they ith Bobby and loo_, and his crude lamp, which they must have as a souvenir, and that Bobby had not perished And praised him for a brave lad, as they led hie in his _igloo_ or la he had done, said little, but followed tihtened so badly learned that Bobby was a castaway and a very real person and not a ghost at all, they vied with one another in showering kindnesses upon hih, and a bit superstitious at ti brave hearts, filled with sympathy for their kind

And so it ca waif of the sea, was carried froe trees and flowers and green fields of which Skipper Ed had so often told when they sat in the big chairs before the fire on winter evenings And s were in store for Bobby