Absorbed in their amusements, none of them noticed the approach of a young man in undress uniform.

He followed them for some moments in a careless way, as if he were but casually strolling in the same direction, yet was watching with close attention every movement of Vi’s graceful figure.

She and Rosie were unconsciously widening the distance between their brothers and themselves, not noticing that the boys had become stationary.

Perceiving this, and that they were now out of earshot, the stranger quickened his pace, and coming up behind the lads, hailed them with, “So here you are, my fine fellows!  I’m pleased to meet you again!”

“Oh,” exclaimed Herbert, looking round, “it’s the gentleman that tells such nice stories!  Good-morning, sir.  We’re glad to see you, too.”

“Yes, indeed,” assented Harold offering his hand, which the stranger grasped and shook heartily.  “We’re having a splendid time skipping stones.  Did you ever do it?”

“Many a time when I was a little chap like you, I used to be a famous hand at it.  Let’s see if I can equal you now.”

He was soon apparently as completely engrossed with the sport as any of them, yet through it all was furtively watching Vi and Rosie as they strolled slowly onward, now stooping to pick up a shell or pausing a moment to gaze out over the wide expanse of waters, then sauntering on again in careless, aimless fashion, thoroughly enjoying the entire freedom from ordinary tasks and duties.

The boys knew nothing about their new companion except what they had seen of him on board the vessel; their mother had not understood who was their story-telling friend, and in the excitement of the storm and the hasty visit to the city, he had been quite forgotten by all three.  Nor were any of the family aware of his vicinity; thus it happened that the lads had not been warned against him.

Vi, however, had seen him with Virginia and knew from what passed directly afterward between her grandfather and aunt (though she did not hear the conversation) that the stranger was not one whom Mr. Dinsmore approved.

Not many minutes had passed before she looked back, and seeing that she had left her brothers some distance behind, hastily began to retrace her footsteps, Rosie with her.

The instant they turned to do so, the captain, addressing Harold, artfully inquired, “Do you know that young lady?”

“I should think so! she’s my own sister,” said the boy proudly.  “The little one too.”

“Pretty girls, both of them.  Won’t you introduce me?”

“Yes, I suppose so,” returned the boy a little doubtfully, and taking a more critical survey of his new acquaintance than he had thought necessary before; “you—­you’re a gentleman and a good man, aren’t you?”

“Don’t I look like it?” laughed the captain.  “Would you take me for a rogue?”

“I—­I don’t believe you’d be a burglar or a thief, but——­”