'What do you think he can have gone out for?' inquired Marjorie, and the faces of the others were as anxious as her own. 'Now, young people,' cried Mrs. Stewart's voice, 'come to breakfast; the _Heroic_ will wait while you have some food.' Marjorie, Allan, and Reggie tore themselves unwillingly away from the letter. 'Mother,' said Allan persuasively, 'there's a letter for Father out there on the hall table; it's some message from the _Heroic_; don't you think you might open it and see what they say?' Mrs. Stewart looked surprised. 'I can't open a letter addressed to your father,' she said. 'Have patience a little while; he may not be long.' 'But, Mother, perhaps it's something very important,' persisted Allan; 'they may be waiting for an answer, you know.' 'I don't think it can be so important as all that,' said Mrs. Stewart. 'Take your places, Allan and Reggie, everything is getting cold.' The young people felt that their patience would give way in another minute. 'Come here, Gerald,' said Mrs. Stewart, 'beside Tricksy; and Harry, you can sit by Marjorie.' Harry looked unwilling. 'Oh, Mother,' cried Tricksy, 'you are putting him with his back to the window!' Mrs. Stewart looked mystified. 'He wants to see the _Heroic_,' explained Tricksy; 'we are watching to see when the boats leave.' Mrs. Stewart gave Harry a seat on the other side of the table, an arrangement which placed Allan where he could not see what was going on. He and Marjorie and Reggie had to rest satisfied with the discovery that they were able to communicate by means of kicking one another's shins under the table, although this method of intelligence made them feel if possible more distracted than before. 'Look how the men are running about on board,' said Tricksy. 'They look like little black ants! They must be going to launch the boats now.' Harry's bright eyes did not leave the vessel for an instant. Of a sudden his jaw dropped and his face became blank. 'What's the matter?' cried every one. 'They're going away,' cried Harry. Every one sprang from table and looked. 'They can't be going round to the caves,' said Marjorie. 'Oh, dear, how can we stop them. I'll take Cheeky and go and warn him.' Fortunately this remark passed unnoticed amid the hubbub. 'They aren't going away altogether, are they?' asked Tricksy, her eyes becoming large with dismay. Allan made a rush for the door, and ran up against his father, who was coming in. 'Hard luck,' said Mr. Stewart, holding out the letter; 'the _Heroic_ has received unexpected orders, and they have to sail northward without delay. No shore leave, so they take this opportunity of saying good-bye.' 'Aw--w--w,' said Harry, Gerald, and Tricksy, while the others had difficulty in repressing an inclination to cheer. 'When are they coming back again?' asked Gerald. 'Next year, perhaps,' said Mr. Stewart, smiling. The faces became if possible more blank than before.