'Eric, I was over in Bristol yesterday. I was in the ropemaker's getting
a coil to replace the one you lost the night of the storm, and there I
saw Michael Heavens of this place, who is a salesman there. He told me
that Abel Behenna had come home the week ere last on the _Star of the
Sea_ from Canton, and that he had lodged a sight of money in the Bristol
Bank in the name of Sarah Behenna. He told Michael so himself--and that
he had taken passage on the _Lovely Alice_ to Pencastle. 'Bear up, man,'
for Eric had with a groan dropped his head on his knees, with his face
between his hands. 'He was your old comrade, I know, but you couldn't
help him. He must have gone down with the rest that awful night. I
thought I'd better tell you, lest it might come some other way, and you
might keep Sarah Trefusis from being frightened. They were good friends
once, and women take these things to heart. It would not do to let her
be pained with such a thing on her wedding day!' Then he rose and went
away, leaving Eric still sitting disconsolately with his head on his
knees.

'Poor fellow!' murmured the chief boatman to himself; 'he takes it to
heart. Well, well! right enough! They were true comrades once, and Abel
saved him!'

The afternoon of that day, when the children had left school, they
strayed as usual on half-holidays along' the quay and the paths by the
cliffs. Presently some of them came running in a state of great
excitement to the harbour, where a few men were unloading a coal ketch,
and a great many were superintending the operation. One of the children
called out:

'There is a porpoise in the harbour mouth! We saw it come through the