"We are in the hands of Providence, and as helpless as babies," continued Mrs. Bristol. "I don't see that we can do a single thing for ourselves, and we must trust in a higher power than man." "We can stay in the cottage over night, at least, and it will be our last in our happy home," said Paul. "The students will all be at their studies in the forenoon, and then you and Lily can walk over to Westport." "What are you going to do, Paul?" inquired his mother, bestowing a look of the deepest interest upon him. "I shall stay here and save what I can." "You must not stay here!" protested his mother warmly. "The students will kill you, under the lead of Walker Billcord." "I am not afraid of them." "You must not stay here: if you do, I shall stay with you," replied the devoted mother. "There is that sailboat, Paul," said Lily, who had been gazing blankly out upon the lake. "She looks as though she was headed for the point." "That's the 'Goldwing,'" added Paul. "I hope Dory Dornwood is on board of her. He is a good fellow, and he may do something to help us. If she comes near enough, I will hail her." "But Dory Dornwood will not do anything for any one on this side of the lake," replied Mrs. Bristol. "The two schools have waged the fiercest war upon each other." "I know Dory Dornwood very well, mother. I had a long talk with him about the war between the schools, and I know that the Beech-Hillers have done all they could to keep out of trouble with the Chesterfields. I am sure he will do anything he can for us. He don't like Major Billcord any better than I do at this moment, for he had a row with him when he was a waiter on a steamer." "I don't see that he can do anything for us, even if he does come near enough for you to hail him," added Mrs. Bristol, hardly less despondent than before. "He can take some of our things on board his boat, and carry them to a place where they will be safe until we want them again." Paul was quite hopeful that something would come of the visit of the "Goldwing" to the point, if she came there. Without stopping to argue the possibilities with his mother, he hastened to the shore. The "Goldwing" was headed down the lake, and, with all sail set, she was dashing over the waves at a tremendous high speed. She was towing a small boat astern of her, but Paul could not tell whether it was the "Dragon" or her usual tender. The wind was exactly west, and the schooner was going free. When Paul saw her before, she was on the easterly side of the lake, where she got a better breeze than on the opposite side. He was satisfied that she headed for the vicinity of the point; for she would have started her sheets when she came up with Scotch Bonnet, if she had been bound directly down the lake.