Mrs. Conway made no objection when Ralph proffered his request.  He had sacrificed the greater part of his holidays to carrying out her wishes, and paying a visit to Mr. Penfold; and although she did not like his being out all night fishing, she could not refuse his request; and, indeed, as she knew that Joe Knight was a steady man and not fond of the bottle, there was no good reason why she should object.  She, therefore, cheerfully assented, saying at the same time, “I will pack a basket for you before you start, Ralph.  There is a nice piece of cold meat in the house, and I will have that and a loaf of bread and some cheese put up for you.  I know what these fishing excursions are; you intend to be back at a certain time, and then the wind falls, or the tide turns, or something of that sort, and you can’t make the harbor.  You know what a fright you gave me the very first time you went out fishing with Joe Knight.  You were to have been back at five o’clock in the afternoon, and you did not get in until three o’clock the next morning.”

“I remember, mother; and there you were on the quay when we came in.  I was awfully sorry about it.”

“Well, I have learned better since, Ralph; and I know now that there is not necessarily any danger, even if you don’t come back by the time I expect you.  And of course each time I have fidgeted and you have come back safe, I have learned a certain amount of sea-knowledge, and have come to know that sailors and fishermen are not accountable for time; and that if the wind drops or tide turns they are helpless in the matter, and have only to wait till a breeze comes up again.”

“I think, mother, you ought to like my going out at night better than in the daytime.”

“Why, Ralph?”

“Because, mother, if I go out in the daytime and don’t get back until after dark, you worry yourself, and having no one to talk to, sit here wondering and wondering until you fancy all sorts of things.  Now, if I go out in the evening, and I don’t come back in the morning at the hour you expect, you see that it is fine and bright, and that there is nothing to make you uneasy; or if you do feel fidgety, you can walk down to the beach and talk to the boatmen and fishermen, and of course they can tell you at once that there’s nothing to worry about, and very likely point the boat out to you in the distance.”

“Well, Ralph, perhaps that is so, although I own I never looked at it in that light before.”

CHAPTER III.

RUN DOWN.

“There’s a nice breeze,” Ralph said as he joined the fisherman at the appointed hour.

“Yes, it’s just right; neither too light nor too heavy.  It’s rather thick, and I shouldn’t be surprised if we get it thicker; but that again don’t matter.”  For in those days not one ship plowed the waters of our coast for every fifty that now make their way along it.  There were no steamers, and the fear of collision was not ever in the minds of those at sea.