'Whist, Bill, whist, don't be too fast; time enough yet.' 'What will you do, then?' 'What will I do--jist take the law on Oakum. Don't you see if I tie his hands the boat can't be built; and the old one they've got now, will only sink 'em to the bottom of the bay, if they try to take a load in her. I can make out a bill, I guess, that will keep him tight for three months at any rate.' 'That's a good idee.' 'Well, what I want of you is, to go some time to-morrow or next day, and jist ask Dick Tucker to come and see me, and may be I'll give him a job. You ain't afraid of Dick, now, are you?' 'No, I don't _care_ nothin' for him; I should like just once to turn the key upon him, and see how he'd like it.' 'He'd rather turn it upon you and me, Bill; but you jist go there and tell him what I say. But keep mum, Bill.' 'No fear o' me.' With that the old man patted Bill on the back. 'Come, come in and take something afore you go.' And in they went, and down went the fiery draught, and away went Bill Tice, a wretched victim to the hateful cup--a youth in age, but already old in ways of wickedness. Along the highway he plodded, his hat pulled down over his eyes, his head bent over, and his look fixed upon the path he was treading. He heeded not the beautiful moon that was lighting him on his way--brightly it shone upon him and his home, but only to expose wretchedness and vice waiting upon each other. The path of duty is said to be the path of safety. When considered in reference to all final results, this is doubtless true; but to go steadily forward in our daily or weekly routine, we must expect to encounter more or less exposure to danger and disaster. The little 'craft,' as Peter called the boat in which Jim and Sam made their voyages, was by no means suitable for the work; and again and again did the old sailor warn them, that 'they must look out for the southeasters, and never venture in no sich thing as that.' It was the only one at present that they could procure, and they must either run the risk or give up their trade--a thing not to be contemplated for a moment. It was early in July; the weather for some days had been oppressively warm. A dense fog covered the land and the water; and as our boys started upon their usual trip, they were obliged to lay their course as they best could, as there was nothing visible beyond a few lengths of their boat. The water was smooth without a ripple; not a breath of air could be felt from any direction. Sam's father had endeavored to dissuade him from venturing on the water at such a time. 'There's no telling what kind of weather we may have when this goes off, and I'm most sure I heerd it thunder a while ago.' 'I guess it wasn't thunder, father; and you know I can hardly miss my way in crossing the river; and when we get on the other shore, it will be easy to make the point; and by the time we get there, the wind will rise and the fog will go off.'