e man at the
wheel, whose white face gleamed for a few moments as it emerged from the
black shadow cast by the great mainsail.

"They're all asleep," cried the master, fiercely. "Here, lay holt,
Zeke. I say, squire, take holt o' the tiller, and keep her straight.
Hyste away, Elim, we'll show 'em the rope's end yet."

"Look!" cried Gunson, quickly.

"Eh? Why, they did hear us," cried the master, in a disappointed tone.
"Why didn't they hail back? Shan't show him the rope's end arter all."

For the schooner glided slowly round till she was head to wind; and
instead of her sails curving out in the moonlight, they were now dark,
save where they shivered and flapped to and fro, so that a part of the
canvas glistened now and then in the light.

"Ahoy!" came faintly from her decks, for she was a quarter of a mile
away; and in a few minutes a boat dropped over the side with a splash,
and four men began to row toward us.

"There you are," said the master, grimly; "they'll take you aboard now.
Going up the Fraser, arn't you?"

"Yes, I hope so," said Gunson, as he thrust his hand into his pocket,
and then handed some money to the old man, who took it with a
dissatisfied grunt, and turned it over in his rough hand.

"What's this?" he said roughly; "ten dollars. There, we said five.
Take them back." He held out half the money. "No, no: bargain's a
bargain. Lay holt."

"But the broken spar?"

"Don't you fret yewrself about that. I'm going to show it to him as
sold it to me, and make him take it again. There, good luck to you all.
Good-bye, youngsters; and if you find any gold up yonder, bring me back
a little bit to make a brooch for my old missus."

Gunson pressed him to keep the money, but he refused angrily.

"Shake hands, all on yew, and good-bye. I meant to put you all aboard,
and I've done it, arn't I?"

"Indeed you have," I said; "and we are very grateful."

"That's right, lad," he said, shaking hands warmly; after which the
others held out their hands, and to my great satisfaction Gunson said--

"Will you let me give these two a dollar each?"

"Oh, very well," grunted the master. "If yew've got so much money to
throw away, yew can dew it."

"Hillo!" came from the fast-nearing boat, "what's the matter?--sinking?"

"No," roared the master. "Sinking indeed! What yer going off and
leaving all your passengers behind for?"

"Oh," said a gruff voice, "it's them."

It was the skipper of the scho