The skipper had no reef pendant, and probably did not know what it was. But Dory found a couple of ropes which answered his purpose. Having lashed down the clew and tack, with the assistance of Paul, he tied the reef-points. Hoisting the sail up to a good set, he shoved off with the boat-hook, and was soon standing out from the shore again. Keeping his place at the helm, Dory stood out to the fleet of barges. The wind had not abated a particle of its force, and even with the reef in the mainsail, she was inclined to bury herself in the waves. Dory was not yet satisfied, and under his direction Paul pulled up a couple of loose boards in the floor of the standing-room, and lifted out a couple of cast-iron blocks of ballast. These were placed in the stern, and the bow was lifted a little more out of the water. "What's all that for?" asked Bissell. "To change her trim a little," replied Dory. "She was ballasted too much by the head. She works better now." The sloop was less inclined than before to bury her bow in the waves, and was more buoyant forward. She dashed ahead at a gallant speed, and in a few minutes she was approaching the barges. The passengers in the stern sheets of the boats were very merry by this time, and seemed to be actually enjoying the motion of the boats. As the sloop came within hail of the barges, the ladies struck up "Roll on, silver moon," in which all the students who could sing joined, and it made a very effective chorus. "Very appropriate," said Dory, laughing; "but she don't do that now. She has done rolling for the present." "The girls are jolly enough now; and they don't seem to be a bit scared," added Bissell. "Will you take them on board again?" asked the acting skipper. "I don't know; what do you think?" "If you don't know, you had better leave it to them," replied Dory. "Hail them, and ask them what they will do." "I say, girls, are you ready to come on board of the Silver Moon?" called Bissell, in a loud voice, as the sloop passed astern of them. "No!" screamed the whole of them, almost with one voice. "We are going back to Westport in the barges," added one of them. "Just as you like," returned Bissell. "Roll on, silver moon," the girls struck up again, and the boys took up the chorus with enthusiasm. "That settles it," added Bissell. "Then we may as well return to the Marian, Paul," said Dory. "I am ready to do just as you say," replied the spare hand. "You don't mean to leave me, do you?" demanded Bissell, aghast at the proposition. "I don't want you to go." "I thought you might prefer to handle your own boat," suggested Dory. "I guess I'd rather have you take her over to Westport, if you will," replied the skipper, anxiously. "Even if we remain on board of the sloop, you had better take the helm," added Dory, who had some curiosity to see how Bissell worked the boat. "I'd rather have you steer her. I don't know but you can manage her better than I can."