THE HOME PORT. 287

“Send for the boat, of course,” the young captain said,
sharply, “and have Bob follow the fellows. By giving
the alarm now they may be captured.”

Miss Dunham laid her hand on his arm, as she said,
pleadingly :

“Why not wait until to-morrow before reporting their
escape? They are thoroughly repentant, and have done
everything in their power to help bring the brig into port.
What real good will be effected now by punishing them?
If they.have escaped, and without your connivance, will it
not really be better for you?”

Ben hesitated a moment, then seated himself, and said
to Mr. Bean:

“You may send for the gig, sir. Perhaps there will be
time to. make the report to the authorities when we are
docked.”

Mr. Bean bowed without making any reply, and left the
cabin.

At this juncture, while Miss Dunham thanks the young
captain for having yielded to her wish, it will be well that
we take our leave of them, without prying further into
their private affairs.

It was not until a late hour on the following day that
the brig was docked, and then, while Ben was making ar-
rangements for sending Miss Dunham ashore to a hotel,
his mother, greatly to his surprise, came on board.

She had seen the telegraphic news of the arrival of the
Progressive Age, and started at once to congratulate her

son upon having done that which, in its telling, occupied