"Tera!" Miss Arnott flushed. "How can you say such a thing?"
"Because it will come true very soon, dear. Misi Johnson no longer thinks of poor Tera, but of you. He will make you his wife."
Miss Arnott's thoughts went back to the time when she paid the minister's debts; to certain glances he had cast upon her of late, even to certain words he had spoken. "Perhaps," she said, with a half-smile; "perhaps--who knows? Oh, Tera, I love him; I do love him so!"
When Tera reappeared, Tolai straightway shouldered her box, and the whole party walked down to the jetty. The heavier baggage had gone off earlier; Shackel had purchased stores and goods; he had hired seamen, and there was nothing to do now but to up anchor, and sail Westward Ho! The bridal pair took leave of their friends, and stepped into the gig that was waiting for them at the jetty steps. Once on board the Dayspring, Shackel set to work to weigh anchor and get away whilst the wind held fair.
In consideration of his new position, Jack decided to abandon his post of first mate. So Shackel, with the second, managed all operations; and the happy pair stood on deck listening to the chanties of the sailors, and watching the group on the pier head. Tera waved her handkerchief and smiled as the sailors tripped the anchor and roared their song of outward bound in rude rhyme:--
"The skipper slapped his-self and swore,
Oh, pulling out for Rio!
He'll stay no longer slack ashore,
Oh, pulling out for Rio!
He's said 'so-long' to gal and boss,