t, he had to admit that even good little Peppo had yielded to
temptation.

"Lord, deal not harshly with the erring," sighed the missioner, and
then he prayed: "Let not his disobedience cause him and us too much
sorrow, Blessed Virgin. Take the poor child to thy motherly bosom, and
bring him back to us in safety. Thou knowest we have great hopes for
him."

Father Somazzo could do no more than this, for he could not leave the
house alone; and, even if he had been able to do so, his attempts to
find the child in the crowds that thronged the streets would have
availed nothing. Hoping that Peppo would join his companions and
return with them, the good Father waited, but in vain. He neither came
with the boys, nor later by himself.

On the following morning Father Somazzo received a visit from Mr.
Black, the lawyer, whom he had consulted concerning the guardianship of
Willy. He came to report that he believed he had sufficient proof to
ask the court to take Willy away from John Brown, and also to cause his
imprisonment. He had through agents sought out the sailors dismissed
from the "St. George", and from them not only learned of the life of
John Brown in Dublin, but also of the peculiar circumstances attendant
upon his brother's death at sea. Mr. Black asked whether he should
prosecute, adding: "Whatever is done, must be done quickly, for I am
told that the 'St. George' will sail to-morrow morning, or the morning
after at the latest, for Australia with three hundred Chinaman on
board."

Father Somazzo signed the necessary papers, then told of little Peppo's
disappearance, and his conjecture that he had been carried off by a
Chinaman named Lihoa, who claimed to be a relative.

"I'll wager ten to one, this Lihoa is one of the greedy Chinamen who is
going to sail on the 'St. George'," said Mr. Black. "Let's go down to
the office of the Chief of Police, and, if my conjecture is true, we'll
find the people we want on board the 'St. George'--'kill two birds with
one stone', as the old saying has it. Be quick, Father, get your hat
and walking stick and come with me. We haven't a moment to lose."

The two men hurried down to the harbor. The Chief of Police received
them in a friendly manner, but when they laid their case before him, he
shrugged his shoulders and said: "I am very sorry, indeed. You have
come just eight hours too late. The 'St. George' sailed this morning
at two with the tide and a favorable wind."