Ned having diligently set to work to swallow the food, in less than a minute declared himself ready to start.
“But you have taken nothing, my poor boy!” exclaimed Aunt Sally.
“I can eat the rest on the way,” answered Ned, showing a slice of bread which he had doubled up and put into his pocket.
“All right, you’ll do well!” said his uncle, nodding approvingly. “When you receive an order, lose no time in executing it.”
Ned ran off, sprang up the hill with the agility of a deer, and made his way to the coast-guard station faster than he had ever before performed the distance. Standing at the door he found a stranger, who inquired his errand.
“Mr Hanson started this morning, or he would have been happy to take charge of you, youngster,” was the answer he received. “But my son Charley is to join the ‘Ione’ in a couple of days, and you can accompany him. As he has been to sea before, he will look after you and keep you out of mischief. Tell your uncle, as I don’t want to bring him all this way, that I will, with his leave, call upon him in the course of the morning to make the necessary arrangements. I’ll make you known, however, to my son before you go back; come in and have some breakfast.”
“Thank you, sir, I have already had mine, and my uncle wants me to return as soon as possible; but I shall be glad to be introduced to your son. Who shall I tell my uncle you are, sir?”
“Say Lieutenant Meadows; we were for a short time messmates as midshipmen on board the old ‘Goliath,’ and I knew his brother-in-law, poor Garth. Was he your father?”
“Yes, sir,” answered Ned.
“I’m very glad that his son and mine are to be together. Charley!” he shouted, turning round.