hey be exceedingly angry with us, or talk quietly about our
narrow escape?

I found that my companions were thinking as I was, for Bigley said
quietly:

"I'm afraid my father will be very cross."

"So am I," was my reply, when Bob came to where we were gazing over the
bulwark shoreward, and said sulkily:

"I say, I don't want to be bad friends with you two. My father's sure
to give me a big wigging for letting you persuade me to go. Well, I
don't mean that," he added with a droll twinkle of the eye, as he saw us
stare, "what I mean is, hadn't we all better stick together, and share
the blame?"

"Yes, of course, Bob," I said; and I felt quite pleased with his
frankness, when if he didn't go and spoil it all again by saying:

"I thought it would be best, because it would be nicer for you."

Our conversation was stopped by Captain Gualtiere coming up, and
pointing westward.

"Look you!" he exclaimed, "see, mes amis, la _Saucy Lass_."

"So it is," cried Bigley eagerly, as he shaded his eyes, and gazed at
the lugger in full sail about a couple of miles away, and making for the
same point as we--"so it is: it's father's lugger."

"Oui, my young frien," said the French skipper; "and he has been to
sweep ze sea to try and find you boys."

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

THE KNIFE BOB WANTED.

In half an hour the luggers were close together off the Gap with their
sails flapping, and the French skipper jumped into the boat with us, and
rowed to the _Saucy Lass_, on board of which we had long before descried
my father and the doctor along with old Jonas Uggleston.

We leaped up the side eagerly, and yet with fear and trembling, not
knowing what our reception might be, and a few words explained all.

"Humph!" said old Jonas, "nice chase we've had after you. Well, I
suppose I mustn't after all."

He picked up a capstan-bar, and balanced it in his hands before throwing
it down under the little bulwark with a loud clatter.

"Mustn't what, father?" said Bigley.

"Knock you down with that, as you've had such a rough time of it. I was
in hopes that you were all three drowned."

"And he went himself to see and find ze bodies, and sheat ze sharks!"
cried the French skipper laughing, and clapping us on the shoulders.

"Perhaps Captain Duncan, my landlord, would like to use that bar on his
boy!" growled old Jonas sourly.

"No!" said my father bluffly, "I can preserve discipline, Mr Uggleston,
without treating my boy l