and selected for it one of the larger fragments of biscuit. Then,
patting it affectionately upon the cheek he tenderly tucked it among the
blankets, beneath the deck, that it might be sheltered from the breeze.
And the little one, content with the ministrations and attentions of his
new guardian, quietly acquiesced.

Abel was greatly excited by his wonderful discovery, and he was eager to
surprise Mrs. Abel Zachariah and to present to her the fair-skinned boy,
and therefore he lost no time in further exploration of the boat.
Unafraid now of evil spirits, and disregarding the dead man lying aft,
he undid the painter of his skiff and secured it astern, where the skiff
would tow easily. And so, with the mysterious child under the deck at
his back, and the mysterious dead man lying in the boat at his feet,
and his own skiff trailing behind, Abel, with a strong arm and a stout
heart and a head filled with perplexing questions, rowed the mysterious
boat to the low ledge of rocks that served as a landing place on
Itigailit Island.

Of course Mrs. Abel Zachariah, keenly interested in his quest of the
prize, was there to meet him, and looking into the boat she saw the
ghastly passenger and was duly shocked.

"The man has been killed!" she exclaimed, stepping backward as though
afraid the thing would injure her. "It is a boat of evil! Come away from
it! Why did you bring it in from the sea?"

For answer Abel reached beneath the deck, lifted out the child, and
stepping ashore placed it in Mrs. Abel's arms.

"A boy," said he. "God sent him to us and he is ours."