"Did the yawl come ashore all right?"
"It was stove up a little before I could get out and attend to it," replied Judd; "but we can fix it easily as soon as the weather will permit."
There was no cessation of the storm until night, and on account of the needful repairs to the yawl, Mr. Benton was obliged to remain on the island until another morning.
During the whole time he in no way mentioned the great risk Budd had undergone in his behalf, but just before his departure on the second morning he remarked:
"I 'spose ye don't hate me no longer, Budd?"
"I have never hated you, Mr. Benton," Budd promptly replied.
"I dunno as ye have," he assented; "ye don't act as though ye did, anyway, an' I'll be friends, if ye will."
Budd shook the hand which was offered him, and without another word Mr. Benton took his departure. Knowing the man as he did, the lad was almost surprised that he should have shown as much feeling as he had; but he was greatly surprised at what soon followed.
Meeting Mr. Wright a few days later, that gentleman accosted him with the question:
"I say, Budd, what have you been doing to Mr. Benton?"