"Don't hurry back, boys," said he, "unless you very pertik'l'ry wish to go up to Moncton by the arternoon tide. Don't mind me. I got several things to occoopy me here." "What time could we start up river?" "Not before four." "O, we'll be back by that time." "Wal. Ony don't hurry back unless you like. I got to buy some ship-bread, an I got to fix some things about the boat. It'll take some time; so jest do as you like." Being thus left to their own devices, and feeling quite unlimited with regard to time, the boys started off in two wagons, and took a long drive through the country. The time passed quickly, and they enjoyed themselves so much that they did not get back until dusk. "It's too late now, boys, to go up," said the captain, as he met them on their return. "We've got to wait till next tide. It's nearly high tide now." "All right, captain; it'll do just as well to go up river to-night." "Amen," said the captain. But now Mrs. Watson insisted on their staying to tea, and so it happened that it was after nine o'clock before they were ready to go on board the Antelope. Going down to the shore, they found the boat ready, with some articles which Captain Corbet had procured. "I've been fixing the gunwales," said he; "an here's a box of pilot-bread. We were gettin out of provisions, an I've got in a supply, an I've bought a bit of an old sail that'll do for a jib. I'm afeard thar won't be room for all of us. Some of you better stay ashore, an I'll come back." "I'll wait," said Bart, taking his seat on a stick of timber. "An I'll wait, too," said Bruce. The other boys objected in a friendly way, but Bart and Bruce insisted on waiting, and so the boat at length started, leaving them behind. In a short time it reached the schooner. Captain Corbet secured the boat's painter to the stem, and threw the oar on board. "Now, boys, one of you stay in the boat, an pass up them things to me--will you?" "All right," said Tom. "I'll pass them up." On this Captain Corbet got on board the schooner, followed by Arthur, and Phil, and Pat. Tom waited in the boat. "Now," said Captain Corbet, "lift up that thar box of pilot-bread fust. 'Tain't heavy. We'll get these things out afore we go ashore for the others." "All right," said Tom. He stooped, and took the box of biscuit in his arms. At that time the tide was running down very fast, and the boat, caught by the tide, was forced out from the schooner with such a pressure that the rope was stiffened out straight. Tom made one step forward. The next instant he fell down in the bottom of the boat, and those on board of the schooner who were looking at him saw, to their horror, that the boat was sweeping away with the tide, far down the river. V. A Cry of Horror.--What shall we do?--Hard and fast.--Bart and Bruce.--Gloomy Intelligence.--The Promontory.--The Bore of the Petitcodiac.--A Night of Misery.--A mournful Waking.--Taking Counsel.