Luckily they were able to buy their fuel at the head of the wharf where they had berthed, but it was hard work getting it aboard, since they had to carry it down from the little store in five-gallon cans, lug it across the schooner’s deck, and hand it down the side. Dan stayed aboard the launch and the others carried. It was awkward work, and they decided that they would take aboard merely enough for a two days’ run and fill again where things were more convenient. So they put in thirty gallons and called it off. It was then four o’clock, and they decided to go ashore awhile before taking the launch out to her anchorage. After they had reached the village street Nelson stopped. “Say, I forgot to lock that hatch,” he said. “I wonder if I’d better go back.” “You closed things up, didn’t you?” asked Bob. “Yes.” “Oh, it will be all right, then. Come on!” They found the post office, and Nelson wrote a brief account of their adventures to his father. When he had signed his name to the postal card he paused and chewed the end of the pen for a moment. Then— “Look here, fellows,” he said to the others, who were watching the village life through the dusty window, “we ought to decide where we’re going, so that dad can send our mail to us.” “That’s so,” agreed Tom. “Let’s keep on to New York, now that we’ve started,” said Bob. “Well, but you wanted to go to Portland,” answered Nelson doubtfully. “Never mind Portland. Maybe we can run up there when we come back. Let’s make it New York.” “All right. Then I’ll tell dad to send our mail to the general delivery at Newport, and we’ll stop for it there the day after to-morrow. How’s that?” “Sounds good to me,” said Dan. An hour later they were back at the wharf, having given their legs a good stretching, and were making their way through the piles of lumber which covered the pier. “It’s time we got here,” observed Bob. “The schooner’s through unloading, and there comes a tug to take her out. Let’s get a move on.” He led the way across the deck of the schooner and was hailed by a thin, red-faced man, who came hurrying back from the bow. “Hi, there! Where you going?” Bob explained. “Oh!” said the other. Then, “Say,” he asked, “you ain’t seen a young feller about fourteen around here, have yer?” Bob replied that he had not. “Well, if you do, you let me know,” said the captain of the _Henry Nellis_ savagely. “He’s my boy, and if I catch anyone helpin’ him to run away from this ship, there’ll be trouble.” “Oh, run away, has he?” asked Dan. “What’s that to you, young feller?” asked the man angrily. “Nothing,” replied Dan, flushing. “Only if he has, I hope he keeps out of your way.” “Oh, you do, eh? Well, you get off my deck, do you hear? Get, now!” “Come on,” whispered Bob. But Dan’s ire was aroused.