Leopold waited for nothing more, but ran down to the wharf as fast as his legs would carry him, and arrived almost out of breath. To his astonishment, he found quite a number of people gathered there, for it had just been discovered that a large yacht had anchored in the river. Squire Moses and Ethan Wormbury were there, the latter to look out for the interests of the Island Hotel. Leopold borrowed a skiff belonging to Mr. Bangs, and pulled off to the Orion. Both of her boats had been lowered from the davits, and hauled up at the accommodation steps, in readiness to convey the ladies and gentlemen to the shore.
"We are all ready for you at the Sea Cliff House, Mr. Hamilton," said Leopold, us he stepped upon the deck.
"Shall we find a good fire in the parlor?" asked the ex-Congressman.
"Yes, sir, and in your rooms, too," replied Leopold. "We call it warm weather down here; but I piled on the wood to suit your case."
"I am so glad to come here again!" said Rosabel, stepping up to Leopold. "I am very much obliged to the fog for sending us to Rockhaven."
"I shall consider the fog one of my best friends after this," laughed Leopold; and he conducted the young lady to the gangway.
"Father says you have a new hotel; and I hope we shall stay here all summer."
"The Sea Cliff House, folks say, is about as good as anything on the coast; and I hope the new hotel will suit you well enough to keep you here a long time," said the gallant young man, as he assisted Rosabel down the steps and into the stern-sheets of the boat.
"It would be so delightful to stay here all summer, and have the yacht, so that we could sail about the bay!"
Leopold assisted the other ladies—of whom there were not less than seven—to their places in the two quarter-boats of the Orion. The whole party was disposed in both of them, and the landlord's son led the way to the wharf in the skiff, which was reached in a few moments. Leopold was on the landing-steps in time to assist the ladies when the first boat came alongside the platform, and the whole party were soon on the wharf.