to hear yuh say that word '_home_,' boy. I hopes it is a home to
yuh, an' allers will be. I've ben thinkin' that your comin' war the
greatest favor Heaven ever sent to me an' mine. If it gives Nancy new
life that means a lot to me."

Darry knew not what to say to this, but he found the rough hand of
Abner, and with a hearty squeeze expressed his feelings far better than
any words could ever have done.

CHAPTER XV

THE POWER OF MUSIC

It seemed as though luck favored Darry on this trip, for the wind veered
around during the night, and blew out of the southeast when he was ready
to start on his return voyage to the mainland.

Thus he was able to use his little sail to advantage both ways.

It was coming so hard off the ocean, however, that at the advice of
Abner he took a reef in the canvas before leaving--the life saver had
become so attached to his new boy by this time that he could not bear to
see him taking any unnecessary chances on that sheet of treacherous
water that had already deprived him of one son.

Darry was glad he had taken his friend's advice before half way across.
Where the wind had a full sweep of the bay the waves were quite heavy,
and it required all his skill as a sailor to keep his cranky little
craft head on.

As it was, he reached his haven with a rush, and his tactics in making a
landing aroused the admiration of several old fisherman who were
lounging at the dock.

He had only time to accomplish several little messages at the store and
get on the road for home when it began to drizzle.

Darry was sorry for this, for he had laid out to visit his traps again
during the afternoon, not wishing to leave any game that may have been
taken, too long in the water.

When later on at lunch he mentioned this to Mrs. Peake she said he would
find an old oilskin jacket of Abner's behind the closet door in the
hall, which Joe had been wont to don under similar circumstances.

So after all, he went forth, defying the elements, as a true sailor lad
always does; and was rewarded for his labor by taking three more
trophies from the firm-jawed traps.

Really it was beginning to look like business, with so many on the
stretching boards; and Mrs. Peake smiled to see how careful the boy was
in everything he undertook.

It spoke well for his future, if he carried the same principle into his
whole life.

Of course Darry knew full well that the skins he was taking thus early
in the fall were no