"You can depend on me, gentlemen. Good-bye, and God bless you," answered he from the pier.
"Now then, skipper, full speed ahead."
"Ay, ay, sir. Let her go, boy."
Once more the boys were on the deep. As the little boat steamed ahead, increasing the distance between them and the pier, they watched the figure of Goody standing by the gas-lamp. He had resisted all their endeavours to make him go to bed, and insisted on coming down to the pier to see them off.
"What time do you reckon to get there, skipper?" asked Reg, as they prepared to turn in.
"About day-break, sir. I'll call you," answered the skipper, as he took the wheel.
A gruff voice bawling "All for shore," wakened them the next morning and, mounting to the deck they found the steamer was just entering the picturesque little bay. The sun was gilding the line of rugged hills that surrounded the bay and glinting on the water, and they both exclaimed in delight at the lovely scene before them.
The steamer was made fast alongside the little pier and, accompanied by the skipper they made their way to the hotel, an old building standing on the slope of the hill, a few hundred yards away.
"Mornin', skipper. You're early," said a rough old fellow, appearing in the doorway.
"So we are, Clarke."