All night long the poor mother seemed to hear Captain Coffin’s last words, “We have every reason to fear the worst,” repeated over and over; but, as though to comfort her, they were always followed by the thought, “Nothing certain is yet known.” She always tried to find a bright side to her troubles, and by looking steadily at it, to forget that there was any dark side. This plan worked so well now that by morning she had determined to still hope for the best, instead of fearing the worst, until something more definite should be known. This was certainly the wisest thing to do, for more than half of all our troubles are those we think may come, but which, after all, never do come; and hoping steadily for the best goes a long way towards bringing the best to us. Though all this had nothing to do with bringing Breeze McCloud home, he came nevertheless. While his mother was busy, with almost her usual cheerfulness, preparing breakfast, she heard a joyous shout in the little front yard, the door was burst open, and the next moment her boy’s arms were thrown about her neck. The _Albatross_ had made a glorious run home, and passed in by Eastern Point at sunrise that morning. The moment she was made fast to her wharf Breeze had jumped into a dory and pulled across the harbor, so as to be the first to tell his mother of his own arrival. He could stay to breakfast, but must get back to the schooner as quickly as possible afterwards, and help discharge the fare of fish she had brought in. One of the boy’s first questions was, “Is there any news from father yet, mother?” “Not yet,” was the answer; “but I feel certain there will be soon, and that when it comes it will be good news. How much we shall have to tell him when he does get home, and how proud he will be of you!” she added, fondly. Her faith in her husband’s return was still as strong as ever, and Breeze had always shared it. While they were at breakfast there came another shout in the front yard, the door again opened, and before he got fairly inside, Captain Coffin exclaimed, “It’s all right, Mrs. McCloud! The _Albatross_ is in, and Breeze is--” “Here, and mighty glad to see you, sir!” cried the lad, jumping up from the table to greet the new-comer. “Bless my soul!” exclaimed the astonished skipper, shaking Breeze heartily by the hand, and gazing at him incredulously, “you have both out-footed and out-pointed me this time. I didn’t suppose the _Albatross_ was tied up yet, and thought I had at least half an hour’s start of you.” The captain sat down to breakfast with them, and between mouthfuls Breeze tried to give them an outline of his recent adventures. They were all so excited, and Mrs. McCloud had to jump up from the table so often to replenish the plates, that she only received a confused impression that her boy had saved somebody’s life and caught the biggest fish that ever was seen. This, however, satisfied her for the present; the details she could learn afterwards.