"If this breeze holds," said Captain Solomon, "we'll get in before dark to-night. But I'm afraid it won't hold."
"Oh," cried little Jacob, "I hope it will."
"So do I, Jacob," said Captain Solomon. "We'll see."
But the wind got less and less. They passed Provincetown, on Cape Cod, a little while after Captain Solomon and little Jacob and little Sol had finished their dinner, and Jacob felt hopeful. But the Industry kept going slower as the wind died down, and Jacob's heart kept going down and down. But he watched, to see if he could see Boston. And, at last, it was almost dark and he hadn't sighted Boston, and his heart was almost down in his boots. He thought that he saw some land away off on the western horizon, but he couldn't be sure whether he did or not, for it was only twilight and the western horizon was all dim and misty. And, suddenly, a little friendly star shone out, just where he was looking.
"Oh," he cried, "what is that star? It just came."
Captain Solomon was standing near him, and he smiled at little Jacob's question.
"That star, Jacob," he said, "is Boston light. We can't get in to-night, but we'll go a little nearer and we'll stand back and forth until daylight. Then we'll go in. But we sha'n't be there to breakfast."
Little Jacob gave a long, shivering sigh. "Well," he said, "I suppose you can't go in to-night. That light is a long way off, isn't it?"
"Yes," said Captain Solomon, "it's a long way off. And, besides, the wind is dying out."
Little Jacob didn't say anything for some time.