"Smith and I are going as commanding officers; and you will have a much better dinner for our exertions, no doubt," said Charlie. "Holloa, there, Bob--Sam!--tumble on board; mind you bring all the garden-stuff they can spare. You Bob, see if you can pick up half you contrived to forget, sir, at Nantucket. You deserve to be made to swim across for it," said de Vaux. "Never could swim a stroke in my born days, sir," muttered Black Bob. "There isn't much choice of sa'ace at Nantucket, anyway," added the boy Sam. {"sa'ace" = sauce, a slang term for vegetables} "Here we go," said Charlie, jumping lightly on board, followed by Smith. "It is possible you may find some melons, Hubbard; don't forget to ask for them," said de Vaux. "Ay, ay, sir," replied Charlie, nodding as the Petrel moved off. The boy was steering, while Black Bob and the gentlemen tended the sails; and the little schooner glided gracefully on her way, with a light breeze, sufficiently favourable. Harry went to take a look at Charlie's sketch, which he found just as the young artist had left it--spirited and true to nature as usual, but only half-finished. De Vaux looked into the chowder pot, where all seemed to be going on well. He then joined Harry, and the young men continued walking together near the shanty, where preparations for dinner were going on under the charge of Stebbins and the acting steward of the cruise. "It is nearly time Stryker made his appearance with the fish," said Harry. "If the sport is good, we shan't see him this hour yet," replied de Vaux. "He will only come back in time to put the finishing stroke to the chowder." "If he waits too long he will have a shower," observed Harry, pointing eastward, where dark clouds were beginning to appear above the wood. "Not under an hour I think," said de Vaux. "He will take care of himself at any rate--trust to Stryker for that," They turned to look at the Petrel. Some ten or fifteen minutes had passed since she left the little wharf, and she was already near her destination; the point on which the farm-house stood being scarcely more than a mile distant, in a direct line, and a single tack having proved sufficient to carry her there. "The wind seems to be falling," said Harry, holding up his hand to feel the air. "It is to be hoped they will make a quick bargain, or they may keep your potatoes too late to be boiled for to-day's dinner." De Vaux took up the glass to look after their movements. "They have made the point, handsomely," he said; "and there is a woman coming down to the shore, and a boy, too." The friends agreed that there seemed every prospect of a successful negotiation; for a woman was seen going towards the garden with a basket, and Sam, the boy, had landed. Before long a basket was carried down from the house; while Sam and the woman were still busy in the garden. "They had better be off as soon as they can," said de Vaux, "for the wind is certainly falling."