shut the companion, to prevent 'er being
swamped. Meanwhile the weight o' water bu'st the mains'l, so that the
vessel partly righted, an' let the hands come on deck agin. Then, after
the gale had eased a bit, two or three o' their comrades bore down on
'em and towed 'em round, so as the wind got under 'er an' lifted 'er a
bit, but the ballast had bin shot from the bilge into the side, so they
couldn't right her altogether, but had to tow 'er into port that way--
over two hundred miles--the snow an' hail blowin', too, like one
o'clock!"

"Really, they must have had a terrible time of it," returned Ruth,
"though I don't know exactly how dreadful `one o'clock' may be. But
tell me, Billy, do the fishermen like the worsted mitts and helmets and
comforters that were sent to them from this house last year?"

"Oh! don't they, just! I've heard them blessin' the ladies as sent 'em,
many a time. You see, Miss, the oil-skins chafe our wrists most awful
when we're workin' of the gear--"

"What is the gear, Billy?"

"The nets, Miss, an' all the tackle as belongs to 'em. An' then the
salt water makes the sores wuss--it used to be quite awful, but the
cuffs keeps us all right. An' the books an' tracts, too, Miss--the
hands are wery fond o' them, an'--"

"We will talk about the books and tracts another time," said Ruth,
interrupting, "but just now we must proceed to business. Of course you
understand that I must have some object in view in sending for a
fisher-boy from Yarmouth."

"Well, Miss, it did occur to me that I wasn't axed to come here for
nuffin'."

"Just so, my boy. Now I want your help, so I will explain. We are to
have what is called a drawing-room meeting here in a few days, in behalf
of the Mission to Deep-Sea Fishermen, and one of your fisher captains is
to be present to give an account of the work carried on among the men of
the fleet by the mission vessels. So I want you to be there as one of
the boys--"

"Not to speak to 'em, Miss, I hope?" said Billy, with a look of affected
modesty.

"No, not to speak," replied Ruth, laughing, "only to represent the boys
of the fleet. But that's not the main thing I want you for. It is
this, and remember, Billy, that I am now taking you into my confidence,
so you must not tell what I shall speak to you about to any living
soul."

"Not even to mother?" asked the boy.

"No, not even--well, you _may_ tell it to your mother, for boys ought to
have no secrets