on board
some of the vessels, men were seen just coming up the fore hatchways on
deck, but they were too far off to hear her voice had she called to
them. She felt ready to give way to tears at the delay, when every
moment might be so precious. At length she saw, through the veil of
morning mist which still hung over the mirror-like surface of the
harbour, a small boat approaching the landing-place. A boy was paddling
her at his ease, singing as he slowly dipped his oars in the water. She
hurried down to meet him, as, standing up, he gave a few more strokes
and brought the boat to shore.

"Well, Miss, what's it you want?" he asked.

"Oh, boy, will you take me off to the _Amity_?" said Jessie. "She lies
not far away from the shore, and I will pay you well."

"Now that is curious," exclaimed the lad, the same Peter Puddle by name
to whom Ralph had entrusted his important commission. "I was to have
gone aboard her for a young chap who was pressed last night and had left
his protection behind him, but I got another job and couldn't, though I
am agoing when I've had breakfast."

"Pray take me off at once, for every moment may be of consequence,"
cried Jessie. "I want to see the captain about the same young man, and
he will, I am sure, give you some breakfast."

"Well, step in, Miss, then," said Peter, offering his hand to help her,
while he kept the boat close to the shore with his boat-hook. "I
thought might be that the skipper would just hear what I'd got to say,
and then kick me down the side again, as the chances are many I've met
with would do."

"Oh no! no! Captain Mudge will treat you kindly and reward you for the
trouble you have taken," said Jessie, as Peter began to pull away from
the shore.

"As to trouble, Miss, I can't boast much of that, seeing I didn't go
when I said I would," answered Peter, in a greatly changed tone. "I
like you, for you speak kindly to me; and I'm sorry I didn't go when I
promised; for, as you say, Miss, there's no time to be lost. He was
taken aboard the _Falcon_, and she is to sail this morning for the
Indies, so that if he goes in her he won't be back again for many a long
year."

This information increased poor Jessie's agitation and anxiety.
Fortunately, the boat was soon alongside the _Amity_: Peter hailed the
deck. One of the crew looked over the side, and seeing Jessie, called
the captain, who quickly made his appearance, while in the meantime the
accommodatio