"Then, as soon as you get the notes which these gentlemen want you to deliver at their houses," said Bowsprit, "take their horses, which you will find just behind those trees, _there_," pointing, "where the road corners with the shore; and as soon as you can do so, deliver notes and horses to their proper addresses. You will then walk down to Drum Point, where we shall be by that time, and we will there take you aboard." "Ay, ay, sir," said the boy. While these directions were being given, Captain Marston had drawn a note-book and a couple of lead-pencils from his pocket. Tearing a blank leaf from the book, he handed that and one of the pencils to John. Using their hats as writing-desks, the two young men soon finished their notes and handed them to the boy, who immediately started on his mission. The four men in the boat had been merely lookers-on and listeners in respect to what had been taking place on the shore. When the boy took his departure, Captain Marston, John Coe, and Billy Bowsprit leaped into the boat. "Will you steer, Captain Marston, if you please?" asked Bowsprit. "With pleasure," answered the captain. "Then, if Mr Coe will take his seat with you at the stern," said the sailor, "I will take my place at the bow, and act as lookout." The seats were taken, and the boat having been driven from the shore by one or two backward strokes of the oars, her head was turned down the creek. The supple rowers bending "with a will" to the elastic blades, the light craft fleetly bounded on her course over the glowing tide of Saint Leonard's, towards the broad Clearwater, which lay before them in the morning sunshine as ever bright and beautiful. STORY TWO, CHAPTER FIVE. ON BOARD THE SCHOONER. *Sebastian*. How are you, friends? I'm very glad to see you. _As You Will_. *Toby*. Who are these men, sir? *Wily Will*. They're travellers only. _The Masquerade_. The row-boats, carrying John, Captain Harry Marston, Billy Bowsprit, and the four seamen, leaving the mouth of Saint Leonard's Creek, entered upon that largest and fairest of the several lake-like expanses of the Clearwater--being six miles in length and three in width--which lies between Point Patience on the south-east, and Solitary Point on the north-west. On gaining an offing sufficient to give the occupants of the boat a view commanding the whole expanse, only one vessel was in sight. This was a graceful little schooner, of about thirty tons burden, which lay at anchor on a part of the river called the Flats, situate on the eastern side of the stream; she was in a position south-east of Otter Point, directly in front of Hungerford's Creek, and about a mile and a half from Point Patience. An easy row of three-quarters of an hour over the crystal-like waters, which were but slightly stirred by a slight wind, brought the boat from the Spout alongside of this schooner.