32 THE FISHERMAN’S BOY.

father told him that he had no doubt there
would be a breeze before night.

“The afternoon passed away, however,
with scarcely a breath of air. The ship
grew gradually smaller and smaller during
the middle of the day, because she gradually
worked off from the land; but in the after-
noon the tide set in towards shore, and she
slowly drifted back again, until at length
she approached within half a mile of the
boat. When the sun was about two hours
high, the fisherman drew in his lines, and
hoisted his sail again to go home,—the
bottom of his boat being filled with fishes.

“As the boat came round, Jock had the
ship in full view on the starboard beam.
The ship had three masts, and a great many
ropes and sails; and as the wind, what little
there was, was blowing in nuw towards the
shore, she was to windward of the boat. Jock
had time to look at her leisurely, for the boat
moved very slowly ; and presently he heard
a loud voice, calling out from the ship,

“© Boat ahoi!’”

“The fisherman rose in the stern of the
boat, and answered to the call. He found
that they wanted him to go on board the