rten was busy setting a watch for the night, and the engines
were kept ready in case the wind might change.

As Uncle Richard and Gabriel were walking back arm-in-arm to the house,
the latter had to relate how it had all happened. Gabriel told his uncle
how he had found the shipwrights all beginning to assemble under the
ship, and so he had thought he had better take command.

"Take command!" cried Uncle Richard; "why, what a boy you are, Gabriel!"
And then Gabriel went on to explain how they got the ways in their
places, loosened the cradle, and wedged up the fore part of the vessel;
then the stays were hastily removed; it was Begmand who had taken away
the last from the stern amidst the fire and smoke, and so away went the
ship just in the nick of time. Tom Robson ought really to have all the
praise, since everything was ready to hand, and in the most perfect
order.

Rachel came to meet them on the steps; she went straight up to Uncle
Richard and whispered in his ear, "Be calm, uncle; don't let us spoil
Gabriel's evening. Father has had a stroke. He is in bed, and the doctor
is here."

The _attache_ entered without saying a word, and Rachel threw her arms
round her brother's neck and said, "Who would have thought of your being
such a clever boy, Gabriel?"

"Boy!" said Gabriel.

"Or man, I shall have to say in future," answered Rachel, with a smile.
"But what have you done with your workmen?"

They were not far behind; and Rachel distributed among them beer, wine,
sausages, bacon, white bread, and other delicacies, until Gabriel
remarked, "You are much more liberal than Miss Cordsen; but had you not
got some chickens for the ball?"

Yes, indeed! She had forgotten the ball. Rachel's feelings were so
pained by seeing Gabriel in such high spirits, that she could not
contain them any longer, so she said quietly, "Gabriel, there will be no
ball to-morrow. Father is ill."

Gabriel had not to ask why. He saw it was something serious. The workmen
were standing by the steps, laden with the good things, and uncertain
where they should take them.

"Come, let us go back to the ship-yard," said Gabriel; "we shall be all
to ourselves there, and besides, it will be nice and warm."

Rachel could hear from his voice that there were tears in his eyes, and
the thought occurred to her, how he had grown from a boy to a man in the
last few hours.

The storehouse had now fallen in, and the ruins were still burning on
the grou