Presently the Gull’s sails were run down, her chains rattled, and she was at anchor.  As quickly as might be the launch, which was in tow, was drawn alongside, and Bobby, with Mr. and Mrs. Winslow and Edward Norman, were chugging toward the landing, where the two eager men stood to greet them.

It would be quite impossible to describe the joy of the greeting, and the explanations and the reunion that followed.  As quickly as he could do so Bobby, with Jimmy to accompany him, ran away to make glad the hearts of Abel Zachariah and Mrs. Abel, who greeted him as he knew they would, and who believed they had never been so happy in their life.  And embracing Bobby, Mrs. Abel cried over him, and they both declared that God was better to them than they deserved.

Skipper Ed was indeed the long lost Edward Norman.  His brother, young Edward’s father, had confessed shortly after Edward’s disappearance all that had taken place.  He was forgiven and made restitution, and had never again gambled.  Several years later he and his wife were lost at sea, with Mr. and Mrs. Winslow’s little son.

It had happened many years before.  Robert Norman, Skipper Ed’s brother, was invited, with his wife and Mr. and Mrs. Winslow, to cruise in a friend’s yacht.  Mrs. Winslow falling ill was unable to go, and therefore Mr. Winslow also declined the invitation.  Robert and his wife urged, however, that the Winslows’ little son, who was a namesake of Robert and of whom they were exceedingly fond, be permitted to accompany them.  The child had been in poor health, and upon the recommendation of their physician consent was finally given.  Edward, who was attending school at the time, was not of the party.

The yacht had voyaged northward, stopping for several days at various ports from which letters were received.  Finally a letter from Sydney, Nova Scotia, stated that the party had decided upon a still more northerly cruise, and for a little while might not be in touch with the mails.  That was the last that was ever heard of the yacht or any one on board.

And so for a full three hours they talked of home, and sorrowed over long-ago partings and the dead, and rejoiced over their reunion and the living, until Skipper Ed suggested that they all pay their respects to Abel Zachariah and Mrs. Abel, and complained that he had hardly seen Bobby at all, and that they had not become properly acquainted with his partner, who had run off to Abel’s with Bobby, which was quite to be expected under the circumstances, for the two boys were like brothers.

Because it was easier for Mrs. Winslow than the rough and wet path, they chugged over in the motor boat, and were met at the landing by Abel and Mrs. Abel, who saw them coming and ran down to meet them, with much good-natured laughter, and ushered them into the cabin where, after the hospitable fashion of the country, they were called upon to drink tea.

“Bobby,” suggested Mr. Winslow, when they had risen from the table, “I’m immensely interested in what you told me about yourself.  May we not see the package of which you spoke?  It might throw some light upon your parentage.”