Lord Ivy swung the bow about and raced toward the wharf. The
others stood up and cheered hysterically.

At the sound and at the sight of us emerging so mysteriously from
the fog, the man in the fishing-boat raised himself to his full
height and stared as incredulously as though he beheld a mermaid.
He was an old man, but straight and tall, and the oysterman's boots
stretching to his hips made him appear even taller than he was. He
had a bristling white beard and his face was tanned to a fierce
copper color, but his eyes were blue and young and gentle. They
lit suddenly with excitement and sympathy.

"Are you from the Patience?" he shouted. In chorus we answered
that we were, and Ivy pulled the yawl alongside the fisherman's
boat.

But already the old man had turned and, making a megaphone of his
hands, was shouting to the cottage.

"Mother!" he cried, "mother, here are folks from the wreck. Get
coffee and blankets and--and bacon--and eggs!"

"May the Lord bless him!" exclaimed the Lady Moya devoutly.

But Aldrich, excited and eager, pulled out a roll of bills and
shook them at the man.

"Do you want to earn ten dollars?" he demanded; "then chase
yourself to the village and bring the constable."