lage and
the shore was deserted and silent, an hour or so later, when a stoutly
built "cat-boat" with her one sail lowered, was quietly sculled up the
inlet. There were two men on board,--a tall one and a short one,--and
they ran their boat right alongside the "Swallow," as if that were the
very thing they had come to do.

"Burgin," remarked the tall man, "what ef we don't find anything arter
all this sailin' and rowin'? Most likely he's kerried it to the house.
In course he has."

The keenly watchful eyes of Burgin had followed the fortunes of that
apple-jack from first to last. To tell the truth, he had more than half
tried to work himself in as one of the "sufferers," but with no manner
of success. He had not failed, however, to see the coveted treasure
stowed away, at last, under the half-deck of the "Swallow." That had
been all the inducement required to get Peter and his boat across the
bay, and the old "wrecker" was as anxious about the result as the tramp
himself could be. It was hard to say which of them was first on board
the "Swallow."

* * * * *

A disappointed and angry pair they were when the empty jug was
discovered; but Burgin's indignation was loudest and most abusive. Peter
checked him, at last, with:

"Look a yer, my friend, is this 'ere your boat?"

"No, I didn't say it was, did I?"

"Is that there your jug? I don't know 'at I keer to hev one o' my
neighbors abused all night jest bekase I've been an' let an entire
stranger make a fool of me."

"Do you mean me?"

"Well, ef I didn't I wouldn't say it. Don't git mad, now. Jest let's
take a turn 'round the village."

"You go and I'll wait for ye. 'Pears like I don't keer to walk about
much."

"Well, then, mind you don't run away with my boat."

"If I want a boat, there's plenty here better'n your'n."

"That's so. I wont be gone a great while."

He was, however, whatever may have been his errand. Old Peter was not
the man to be at any loss for one, even at that time of night, and his
present business kept him away from the shore a full hour. When at last
he returned he found his boat safe enough, and so, apparently were all
the others; but he looked around in vain for any signs of his late
companion. Not that he spent much time or took any great pains in
looking, for he muttered to himself:

"Gone, has he? Well then, a good riddance to bad rubbidge. I aint no
angel, but he's a long ways wuss than I am."