Page:Barbour--For the freedom from the seas.djvu/32

 "He's coming," said Mr. Cupples gruffly. "Skippers stand by to the last, lad. Over you go now."

"Well!" And then Nelson remembered Pickles. He called him but got no answering bark nor sound of scampering feet. Pickles, then, was still below! He turned, deaf to the cries of the mate and the others, and hurried up the canted deck and plunged again into the after cabin.

"Pickles!" he called. "Pickles! Where are you?" And then he heard a whine, and went stumbling, falling into the little compartment where the floor was already an inch deep in sea water. For a moment he couldn't find the dog, but then another whine led him right and he gathered the frightened animal in his arms and hastened out again, sobbing reassurances and endearments, and all the time panic-stricken with a terror he couldn't formulate, but that had to do with the amazing fact that his father had not come for him. On deck again, he sped to the side. The little boat was in the water and as his head showed over the rail Mr. Cupples called to him to jump.

"Catch Pickles," he answered, and dropped the dog. "Is father down there? Are you there, dad?"

But it was Leo who answered. "Sure, he ban here in boat. Yump, Nels!" 12