"Good day, friends!" called the shipbuilder, as he pulled the outer door
open, for he recognized most of the faces of men and women in the crowd.
"What's wrong, friends!"

At the very doorstep the leaders of the crowd halted.

"The 'Mary Bond' isn't in yet, Mr. Farnum," called one of the men.

That was the name of a fishing smack that put out from Dunhaven at
regular intervals through the winter. She carried a Dunhaven captain
and mate, and, altogether, fourteen men and boys.

"When should she have been in!" queried Mr. Farnum. The crowd had
halted, now, and all but their chosen speaker remained silent.

"Yesterday morning, sir," replied the spokesman.

"Do you people fear that harm has come to the 'Mary Bond!" queried the
shipbuilder.

"Why, it must be so, sir. For the smack wasn't due to go out more'n
some forty miles. With the winds we've been having lately she could
come in, any time, within a few hours."

"Perhaps the captain had a poor run of luck," suggested Mr. Farnum. "He
may be staying out longer than usual."

"No, sir, for all the reports that have come in off the sea are of big
catches. The ocean has been swarming with fish these last few days,"