"'Good-by, mamma,' the girl says as she steps on the plank; 'don't you fidget: you know you can trust Joe; and I'll be back at half-past six to dinner.'
"Well, sir, as we pushed off I felt somehow responsible like, and although I'd told the boys before that one reef would be enough, I made 'em put in another before I hoisted the sail. There warn't many boats out, for there was more sea on than most visitors care to face; but once fairly outside we went along through it splendid. When we got within a mile of Fley, I asks her if we should turn, or go on for a bit farther.
"'We shall go back as quick as we've come, shan't we, Joe?'
"'Just about the same, miss; the wind's straight on the shore.'
"'We haven't been out twenty minutes,' she says, looking at her watch; 'I'd rather go a bit farther.'
"Well, sir, we ran till we were off the brig. The wind was freshening, and the gusts coming down strong; it was backing round rather to the north too, and the sea was getting up.
"'I a'most think, miss, we'd better run into Filey,' I says; 'and you could go across by the coach.'
"'But there's no danger, is there, Joe?'
"'No, miss, there aint no danger; but we shall get a ducking before we get back; there's rain in that squall to windward.'
"'Oh, I don't care a bit for rain, Joe; and the coach won't get in till half-past seven, and mamma would be in a dreadful fright. Oh, I'd so much rather go on!'