The boat, a large fishing yawl with sails down, was rowed up to the capsized skiff, and every eye was turned over the dark waters, while several hailed to see if a swimmer was near. The surf-skiff was caught in the net, which had been stretched to accomplish just what it had done, and, confident that their victim had perished, sail was set on the fishing yawl and it sailed away toward the town. Then from out of the shadows swam Mark Merrill, and going to his upturned boat he removed the slender mast, righted the skiff, clambered in, and with his hat threw the water out. Then the mast was stepped once more, the wet sail spread, and the surf-skiff held on her way homeward, while Mark mused aloud: “I know two of the three who were in that boat; but I’ll not tell on them--oh, no! I’ll just keep my secret for future reference.” CHAPTER XIII. STUMBLING BLOCKS. From a hint given him by Commodore Lucien, Mark had devoted himself to certain studies, so that there should be no chance of his failure to enter the academy through ignorance. His mother had helped him greatly, and in her mind there was no doubt of his passing the examinations, both physical and mental, severe though they might be. As he had told Judge Miller, his mother had decided to remain at Castle Cliff with old Peggy. They had talked it all over, and as, for some reason, Mrs. Merrill wished to shun the world, to live the life almost of a recluse, they had all agreed that it was best for her to remain where she was, and Peggy was equally as content with the arrangement. When Mark returned from his visit to B----, which, but for his being a splendid swimmer, would have been fatal to him, he did not tell his mother of the plot he knew had been concocted to put an end to his life. He simply told her that he had run upon a fishing net where he had never expected to find one, and going very rapidly, with a fresh breeze blowing, the surf-skiff had capsized, throwing him and his purchases out. His papers were all wet, but Peggy quickly dried them. “But about this check, Mark, which Commodore Lucien so kindly sent you?” asked his mother. “I answered the letter at once, mother, returning the check, and accepting the outfit, for which I shall pay him at some future day.” “That was right, my son.” “Mother, I went to see Judge Miller about the schooner, and he made a suggestion which I think it would be well to follow. You know Jasper Crane has no smack now, and is in hard luck, while he and his two sons are the best seamen on the coast, so we can put them on the schooner, as a crew, the old gentleman being skipper. As it will also cost considerable for me to reach the Naval School, I can make a cargo of the raft that came ashore and run it to Norfolk, thence going up the Chesapeake to the Naval Academy, while Captain Jasper Crane brings the schooner back and follows the advice of Judge Miller about putting her on as a packet among the islands.