Part 27 (1/2)

And then Bobby took his friends to see the grave, and the cairn he had built over it, and for a little they stood, in silence and in pity for the nameless man who lay there

Day comes early in this latitude at this season, and at two o'clock, in the ood fair breeze, and the _Gull_ was plowing her way into Abel's Bay, with Bobby as pilot, for he knew its waters as you and I know our city streets And what old friends the distant mountains and headlands seemed, as he pointed them out to his companions!

It was mid-afternoon when the _Gull_ at last approached the head of Abel's Bay, and in the distance the two cabins gradually came into view

Skipper Ed's cabin was the nearer, and their course was laid toward it, and presently two figures were discerned at the boat landing

”That's the Skipper on the left!” exclaimed Bobby ”I know him because he's so tall! The other must be Father, but he doesn't look like Father, either!”

And then, standing intently gazing at the men, he suddenly shouted:

”It's Jimmy! Oh, it's Jimmy! He was saved! He was saved! He was saved!

Oh, thank God, he was saved!”

And in spite of hi to Bobby's eyes, and he leaned over the rail and shouted and shouted, and waved his hat, and at last Skipper Ed and Jimmy heard, and they knew his voice, and they too shouted and waved their hats, in no less excitement and joy than Bobby

Presently the _Gull's_ sails were run down, her chains rattled, and she was at anchor As quickly as side, and Bobby, with Mr and Mrs Winslow and Edward Norer reet them

It would be quite i, and the explanations and the reunion that followed As quickly as he could do so Bobby, with Jilad the hearts of Abel Zachariah and Mrs Abel, who greeted him as he knew they would, and who believed they had never been so happy in their life And e Bobby, Mrs Abel cried over him, and they both declared that God was better to the lost Edward Nor Edward's father, had confessed shortly after Edward's disappearance all that had taken place He was forgiven and ambled Several years later he and his ere lost at sea, with Mr and Mrs Winslow's little son

It had happened many years before Robert Norman, Skipper Ed's brother, was invited, with his wife and Mr and Mrs Winslow, to cruise in a friend's yacht Mrs Winslow falling ill was unable to go, and therefore Mr Winslow also declined the invitation Robert and his wife urged, however, that the Winslows' little son, as a naly fond, be permitted to accompany them The child had been in poor health, and upon the recoiven Edward, as attending school at the tied northward, stopping for several days at various ports from which letters were received Finally a letter from Sydney, Nova Scotia, stated that the party had decided upon a still ht not be in touch with the mails That was the last that was ever heard of the yacht or any one on board

And so for a full three hours they talked of hos and the dead, and rejoiced over their reunion and the living, until Skipper Ed suggested that they all pay their respects to Abel Zachariah and Mrs Abel, and complained that he had hardly seen Bobby at all, and that they had not become properly acquainted with his partner, who had run off to Abel's with Bobby, which was quite to be expected under the circumstances, for the two boys were like brothers

Because it was easier for Mrs Winslow than the rough and wet path, they chugged over in theby Abel and Mrs Abel, who saw theood-natured laughter, and ushered them into the cabin where, after the hospitable fashi+on of the country, they were called upon to drink tea

”Bobby,” suggested Mr Winslohen they had risen from the table, ”I'm immensely interested in what you told e of which you spoke? It e”

And when Bobby told Mrs Abel that the visitors had requested to see the little clothes he hen they found hireatly pleased, for they were proud of Bobby, and without delay she opened the chest in which she kept her treasures and brought forth a neatly wrapped package, which she delivered to Mr Winslow

For e had not been opened It was covered with cloth, and tied with a buckskin thong Mr Winslow placed it on the table, and as he undid it the others grouped thee lay the little dress He lifted it and shook it out and held it up for inspection, and then a strange thing happened

Mrs Winslow,by Skipper Ed Her face suddenly hite, she reached for the garment, examined it for a moment, and then exclaimed:

”Oh, my little Bobby! Oh, my little boy! That was his dress! It was his!”

There was excitement at once Mrs Winslow became so dizzy and faint that Skipper Ed sat her in a chair Mr Winslow's hand tre Then he opened the wallet in which Mrs Abel had placed Bobby's little ring, for he had long since outgrown it

”The ring Robert gave him on his third birthday, just before they left us!” said Mrs Winslow, bursting into tears ”His naht The identification was perfect But none see with them was the same Bobby The parents were lost in the sorrowful yesterday and forgetful of the happy today, until Skipper Ed asked: