h him the unfortunate predicament into which his adventure had brought him; but he was saved

, survived last night's storm. We are glad t

had been missed, and possibly searched for. Anxious, therefore, to know just

ime I did not expect to do so. What did

directly over here for me and my man to go with him to look you up. As we went along down to 'The Hummocks' we made inquiries about you, but could not ascertain that you had been seen since one o'clock yesterday, when you were on your downward trip for seaweed. Arriving at 'The Hummocks,' we carefully searched them from one end to the ot

d boy have gone no one knows where. Just as likely as not they are lying out there under the tossing waves. I guess we'd better go up the shore a piece, however, and see if we can find anythin

Wright, who seemed anxious to know more of the details, and also repeatedly declared it was the most marvelous escape he e

he came to the conclusion that I and

ired of his talking, and told him you were of more account than all the carts that had been made since the world began, and that if he had a spark of decency about him he would shut his mouth. I suggested, also, that you would never have been lost if he hadn't set you to drawing sea-weed

'm alive, but the cart is lost?" asked Budd

eels and under-gear may yet turn up. But even if they are not recovered, what does the loss amount to compared with your safety? Still I have already learned that you can never know what John Benton may

ightened Mrs. Benton to death by his sudden and unexpected appearance. He succeeded in convincing her, however, that it was really he, and that he had providentially been saved. Nor could he help n

the threshing-floor mending a horse-cu

at last, and ready to repo

to know what to say. It was very evident that he had never expected to

ed home unharmed. I did my best to save them

more Mr. Benton brok

wenty-five dollers fer it at auction only las' fall;

ur own. Though I may have been a little rash in undertaking to cross the roadbed while the tide was so high, I am in no other sense to blame, and I w

a't to death at a little runnin' water. If ye'd stayed in the cart an' let the oxe

s burned wit

he emphatica

g up one of the handles of the cultivator that had been det

ed them from the cart," answered Budd, firmly, "and

g the cultivator-handle and bringing it down with a f

s no alternative, Budd grappled with him, and then began a terrible struggle for the mastery. Had the lad possessed his usual strength he might have come off victor, for he had caught his antagonist directly under the arm

een object that rolled under it, and he fell heavily upon the floor, with Mr. Benton on top of him. With a shout of triumph the angry man sat down upon the lad's breast, and with his clinched fist began to pound him. He had struck

if you lay the weight of your finger on that lad again I'

rest mow and remained motionless. Experience had alread

o his feet, Mr

pected, or this miserable wretch would not have had a chan

d declared that he was not seriously hurt, though he did not know

ared he had not meant to hurt him, but only to give him a wholesome lesson, s

l him. This, too, when he is not your boy, nor bound out to you, and you had no more right to chastise him than you have to strike me. I don't know whether the boy has any friends or not, but as long as I am a member of the Town

munths, which, as he knowed nuthin' 'bout farm in

work ever since he has been with you; and admitting his ignorance on s

stion was add

to sign, and in that, though I did not so understand it at the time, he is to pay me

see it," deman

n took the paper from his pocket-

arefully; then he deliber

uld be set aside, as you have taken an unfair advantage of the lad. You meant to g

had used the paper at the time he h

he had got ready to get rid of you. Then he would have seen to it that you quitted the farm before the

as afraid that Budd might demand the amount due him and leave at once. This he did not want the boy to do, for he preferred to

return his wallet to his pocket, "before you put

hs are not up yet

man, to Budd's great astonishment, meekly handed over two te

ve made upon the lad. If you don't, I'll have you arrested before morning

ount; but Mr. Wright was inexorable, and the misera

gs, and get ready to go with me. I don't propose to leave you in Bento

ises of Mr. Benton, Mr. Wright fifteen min