across the
rippling water to the launch which lay in the offing. Looking back from
the stern-seat, Gregory saw the man on the ledge gazing after them with
folded arms.

On the deck of the _Pelican_ the girl was issuing hasty orders for the
return to the mainland.

"Kick her over, Jones. Johnson, stand by the hook. Here comes the other
skiff. Get your stuff aboard, Sorenson, as quick as you can," she called
to the approaching dory, "and swing the boat on deck. We'll beat it out
of here and take the _Curlew_ in tow. Make it lively, boys. We've got to
be under way."

Swinging wide of the headland the _Pelican_ plunged into the trough of
the swell and skirting the coast raced on to pick up the disabled
_Curlew_. Dickie Lang looked back at the dim outline of the cliffs as
they shadowed the sea.

"Poor little _Pete_," she exclaimed softly. "It's tough. But it can't be
helped."

Gregory alone heard her words.

"It sure is," he said, feeling that the words were wholly inadequate.
"And I'm mighty sorry," he added.

The girl started. "I guess I was thinking aloud," she said. "I didn't
know you heard." She set her lips together. "It's all in the game, I
know," she went on, "but no one but me knows how I hate to lose the
little _Petrel_."

When they picked up the _Curlew_ the fitful wind died suddenly and the
air grew heavy with moisture. The white clouds which scurried across the
face of the heavens dropped lower and massing themselves together
obscured the stars. Piloting the _Pelican_ and her tow safely to the
high seas, the girl relinquished the wheel to Johnson with a sigh of
relief.

"I'll rustle something to eat, Bill," she said. "We'll stand two-hour
watches. I'll take her next. I want to see if there is anything I can do
for Tom. I'll be in the cabin. Call me if you sight anything or it gets
thicker."

Turning to Gregory, she exclaimed: "The next thing is to eat. I'm
starved myself, and I'll bet you're worse."

Repairing to the cabin where the big fisherman was already asleep on the
bunk, they ate their first real meal of the day in silence. There was
much that they could have talked about, but one does not follow the sea
long without learning that opportunities to eat are sometimes golden,
and not lightly to be passed over or interfered with by conversation. It
was not until the last morsel of food had been consumed, therefore, that
Gregory made an effort to voice his thoughts.

"What do you think of Ban