again the day after Boxin' Day--and mind you ask for excursion
tickets,' I said.

"They tumbled the boat out fast enough, you may be sure. Leastways
the two men were smart enough. But the boy seemed ready to cry, so
that my heart smote me. 'There!' said I, 'and Dicky can go too, if
he'll pull for it. I shan't mind bein' left to myself. A redeemed
man's never lonely--least of all at Christmas time.'

"Well, sir, they nipped into the boat, leavin' me aboard to steer;
and they pulled--pulled--like as if they'd pull their hearts out.
But it happened a strongish tide was settin' out o' the Sound, and
long before we fetched past the breakwater I saw there was no chance
to make Cattewater before nightfall, let alone their gettin' to the
railway station. I blamed myself that I hadn't thought of it
earlier, and so, steppin' forward, I called out to them to ease up--
we wouldn't struggle on for Cattewater, but drop hook in Jennycliff
Bay, somewhere inside of the Merchant Shipping anchorage. As things
were, this would save a good hour--more likely two hours. 'And,'
said I, 'you can take the boat, all three, and leave her at Barbican
steps. Tell the harbour-master where she belongs, and where I'm
laying. He'll see she don't take no harm, and you needn't fear but
I'll get put ashore to her somehow. There's always somebody passin'
hereabouts.'

"'But look 'ee here, father,' said the boys--good boys they were,
too--'What's to happen if it comes on to blow from south or
sou'-west, same as it blew at the beginning of the week?'

"''Tisn't goin' to do any such thing,' said I, for I'd been studyin'