"Onct you put Davy on the scent," he whimpered, as he listened to the keeper's departing footsteps, "you might as well give up. Davy's a turrible one fur runnin' down the game. Nation! I hope he won't fall foul o' Maud Grace an' fling her at her mother!" The cold perspiration rose to Mark's forehead. "Nation! I wish I hadn't mentioned Mrs. Jo G. I wish t' gracious I'd laid the hull blamed business t' Pa, fur Pa kin stand it bein' so soft-like." Janet reached the dunes in good time, but the distance had never seemed so long before. The throbbing, hurt heart outstripped the faithful little _Comrade_ doing its best before the favoring wind. Every tack seemed a mile, and a fever rose in the blood of the silent girl at the tiller. She had time to think. She had time to grow old during that passage. One figure stood out alone from the confused tangle--her mother! Around that form much centred! She must know all--all, about her mother. She must not break upon Billy with her startling news. Billy was so easily driven into an impenetrable silence! She must draw him out by old familiar methods and not frighten him into caution. By the time the _Comrade_ was fastened to the Station wharf, the girl had got herself well in hand. The men of the crew who were not sleeping were engaged indoors, a lonely stillness brooded over all. Janet went up to the government house and looked in at the open door facing the ocean. "Where's Cap'n Billy?" she asked. The two men, preparing food at the table, raised their eyes with no surprise, and Captain Jared Brown replied: "Isterin'." Then with a huge clasp knife he opened a can of tomatoes, raised it to his lips and drained the contents. Tomatoes were Jared's only dissipation. "Has he been gone all day?" Janet waited until the empty can was set down. "The better part of it." The man wiped his lips with the back of his hand. "Does he have a patrol to-night?" "No! no!" Jared began to show an interest. "I'm going to surprise him. Don't let on, Jared, if you see him. Who is in the lookout?" "John Thomas." Janet went to the stairway. "John Thomas!" she called up, "don't let on to Cap'n Billy that I'm here." "I don't report no derelicts!" shouted John from aloft. John Thomas was an unsmiling humorist and the idol of the undemonstrative crew. He had seen the girl's approach and was ready with his answer.