won't be back till late, I am afraid, and you lose your
time staying here," said Michael.

"Never mind, I will lend you a hand," said Eban, making his punt fast,
and stepping on board the "Wild Duck."

He was a fine, handsome, broad-shouldered lad, with dark eyes and hair,
and with a complexion more like that of an inhabitant of the south than
of an English boy.

He took up a mop as he spoke, whisking up the bits of seaweed and
fish-scales which covered the bottom of the boat.

"Thank you," said Michael; "I won't ask you to stop, for I must go and
turn in and get some sleep. Father does not seem very well, and I shall
have more work in the evening."

"What is the matter with Uncle Paul?" asked Eban.

Michael told him that he had been complaining since the morning, but he
hoped the night's rest would set him to rights.

"You won't want to go to sea to-night. It's blowing hard outside, and
likely to come on worse," observed Eban.

Though he called Paul "uncle," there was no relationship. He merely
used the term of respect common in Cornwall when a younger speaks of an
older man.

Eban, however, did not take Michael's hint, but continued working away
in the boat till she was completely put to rights.

"Now," he said, "I will help you up with the oars and sails. You have
more than enough to do, it seems to me, for a small fellow like you."

"I am able to do it," answered Michael; "and I am thankful that I can."

"You live hard, though, and your father grows no richer," observed Eban.
"If he did as others do, and as my father has advised him many a time,
he would be a richer man, and you and your sister and Aunt Lanreath
would not have to toil early and late, and wear the life out of you as
you do. I hope you will be wiser."

"I know my father is right, whatever he does, and I hope to follow his
example," answered Michael, unstepping the mast, which he let fall on
his shoulder preparatory to carrying it up to the shed.

"I was going to take that up," said Eban; "it is too heavy for you by
half."

"It is my duty, thank you," said Michael, somewhat coldly, stepping on
shore with his burden.

Slight as he looked, he carried the heavy spar up the pathway and
deposited it against the side of the house. He was returning for the
remainder of the boat's gear, when he met Eban with it on his shoulders.

"Thank you," he said; "but I don't want to give you my work to do."

"It's no labour to me," answered E