“Well, Hooker!” he exclaimed at last, “I wish you were on shore. We must see how you are by to-morrow or next day; and, in the meantime, we must get these young people and their worthy nurse to come to my house and see my wonders. I can easily manage to find accommodation for them; for I built it originally in the expectation of having some companions. Walter, you will accompany them, as I suppose, Hooker, you can spare him?”
“I have no doubt my skipper can do without him,” answered Mr Hooker; “though, I can tell you, he is of no little importance on board, as he acts the part of mate; and a very good seaman he is, too, for his age, and the time he has been at sea.”
I asked Mr Hooker if Oliver could accompany us, as I knew he could be spared. “And Merlin too. The old fellow will like a run on shore; and you will let him come also,” I said, turning to my uncle.
“He looks too wise an animal to quarrel with any of my friends,” he observed; “and I shall be very glad to see him.”
Frau Ursula and the young ladies quickly got ready a few things to take on shore. Evening was approaching. However, the old friends had a good deal to talk about before we shoved off. In a short time, we were pretty well at our ease with Mr Sedgwick; and the girls looked forward with delight to the wonders they hoped to see on the island.
We landed at a rather more convenient spot, which Mr Sedgwick pointed out. Roger Trew, who had leave to remain on shore, assisted in carrying up the beds for the ladies; while Oliver and I took charge of the other articles they required. The boat then pulled back to the brig. The moment Merlin landed he scampered off along the shore, bounding and gambolling just like a young dog, so delighted did he appear to be able to stretch his legs. He then came up to me, and licking my hand, followed close at my heels.
“I do not quite like the look of the weather,” observed Mr Sedgwick, glancing back at the sea. “I wish I had told them on board the brig to get out another anchor; or it might have been safer, to be sure, to stand out into the offing. Stay; there will be no harm in giving them a caution.”
He went back to the beach and hailed; but the boat was already at a considerable distance, and Tarbox did not appear to hear him.
“Well, I hope it is all right,” he observed. “I have often seen this weather, and nothing has come of it. At the same time, it generally looks like this just before a heavy gale; and this open bay is not a good place for a vessel to be caught in when it blows hard.”