to the house."

CHAPTER III.

The Skipper felt very uncomfortable when he reached home carrying his
boat, for almost the first person he saw, was his mother, who met him
in the hall, to catch him in her arms, without taking any notice of the
big sailor, who saluted her, by pulling at a tuft of shaggy hair on his
forehead, bending forward and kicking out one leg behind, before
patting down his load.

"You can go in the kitchen, Jeffs," said the Captain, appearing at the
drawing-room door, "and have your meal there."

"Ay, ay, sir!"

"There will be a portmanteau to take back with you, but, you can stay
till the evening if you like. The boat will be at the stairs at seven."

"Ay, ay, sir!" said the sailor, saluting, and backing out, trying hard
to catch the Skipper's eye; but the boy was watching his mother, for he
saw that she had been crying.

"Father's been telling her," he said to himself; and he took the first
opportunity of slipping away. But he had to come back when the big bell
rang for early dinner, feeling very guilty, and longing to tell his
mother that he was always going to be very brave and manly in the
future, and never do anything wrong again. But, he had no chance, for
soon after dinner, Mrs. Trevor, who looked very unhappy, told him to
take Dot and go and play.

"Ah! yes, little ones," said the Captain gravely. "You can go, both of
you, but don't go far away. I shall want to see all I can of you
to-day."

Bob felt more uncomfortable still, as he reached the door, but, before
he was outside, the Captain called him back. "I suppose you would like
to have Jeffs to help you this afternoon?" he said quietly.

"Ye--es, please, Papa," said the boy.

"Very well. Fetch me those two parcels he brought."

Bob hurried out into the hall, closely followed by Dot, who said
sagely, "You made Pa and Ma both cry by teasing me."

But the thought of the parcels chased away the trouble in the boy's
heart, as he caught them up and ran with them into the drawing-room,
followed by Dot, whose little face grew serious, when the parcels were
opened, and found to contain little square boxes.

"Open them," said the Captain, while Mrs. Trevor stood beside them,
biting her lower lip.

The boy's cheeks flushed, and his heart beat, for there, bright and
new, were the things he had been longing for: a large metal model,
carriage and all, of a breech-loading cannon, and a patent brass
anchor.

"Oh, Pa!" he cr