"Yes; down the Jersey coast. We got in company with her in the fog, after the storm. That was yesterday evening."
"Down the Jersey coast! Do you mean you've been out at sea?"
"Yes, father; and I'd go again, with Dab Kinzer for captain. Do you know, father, he never left the rudder of the 'Swallow' from the moment we started until seven o'clock this morning?"
"You owe him your lives!" almost shouted Mr. Foster; and Ford added, "Indeed, we do."
It was Dab's own mother's arms that had been around him from the instant he made his appearance, and Samantha and Keziah and Pamela had had to be content with a kiss or so apiece; but dear old Mrs. Foster stopped smoothing Ford's hair and forehead, just then, and gave Dab a right motherly hug, as if she could not express herself in any other way.
As for Annie Foster, her face was suspiciously red at the moment, but she walked right up to Dab, after her mother released him, and said:
"Captain Kinzer, I've been saying dreadful things about you, but I beg pardon."
"I'll be entirely satisfied, Miss Annie," returned Dabney, "if you'll ask somebody to get us something to eat."
"Eat!" exclaimed Mrs. Kinzer, "Why, the poor fellows! Of course they're hungry."
Of course they were, every one; and the supper-table, after all, was the best place in the world to hear the particulars of their wonderful cruise.