And so it came about that Bobby and Jimmy were presently aboard the Good and Sure, satisfying an accumulated and vast appetite upon Captain Higgles’ good hardtack and tea, while the schooner laid her course for Itigailit Island.

An hour later, as the captain had predicted, the Good and Sure came to off Abel Zachariah’s fishing place, and almost before the anchor chains had ceased rattling Skipper Ed and Abel pulled alongside in a boat and were expressing their relief upon the safe return of the two lads, whose sudden and unexplained disappearance had puzzled them and caused them a deal of worry.

“I finds th’ young scallawags driftin’ around th’ sea, and bearin’ no course whatever,” explained Captain Higgles, “an’ I picks un up as salvage.  But I don’t want un.  My eyes!  I don’t want un.  I don’t want any such two scallawags as they about the Good an’ Sure.  They’d be causin’ me no end o’ trouble, and you can have un free o’ charge if you’ll but take a look at a sick lad I has below, sir, an’ tell us what t’ do for un.  ’Tis Hen.  Blink’s lad, sir.  He has a wonderful rash all over he—­my eyes, ‘tis a wonderful rash, and it makes th’ lad sick.”

Skipper Ed followed the captain to the cluttered little cabin, and Abel and Jimmy and Bobby, curious to see the wonderful rash, also followed.

The lad, a boy of ten years or thereabouts, was stretched upon a bunk, and he was indeed afflicted with a wonderful rash.  The moment Skipper Ed set eyes upon him his face assumed a very grave expression.  He asked several questions, which the child’s mother answered, and then he asked the boy: 

“How you feeling, little lad?”

“Terrible sick,” answered the boy, “but I’d be fine if I could go above deck, sir.”

“’Twill never do for you to go above deck with this rash,” said Skipper Ed, “but there’ll be better luck by and by, lad; better luck, lad.”

And then he directed the mother to give the child no cold drink, to keep him below decks, and not on any account to permit him to become chilled until the rash had disappeared and he felt quite well and normal again.  To this he added some simple directions as to food.

“Is I goin’ t’ die?” asked the boy anxiously.

“No, no, lad, not if you do as your mother tells you, now.  You’ll be all right, but it’ll be some time.  Can’t weigh your anchor and hoist your sails for a little while.  Better luck by and by, though.”

“What’s th’ matter with un, Skipper?” asked Captain Higgles when they were again on deck.

“Measles,” answered Skipper Ed.

“Measles!  Measles!” exclaimed the Captain in instant consternation.  “My eyes!  Oh—­my—­eyes!  And we’re all like to cotch measles!  And measles kills folks!  Oh—­my—­eyes!  ‘Tis like t’ ruin th’ v’yage!”

“’Tis too bad, but it can’t be helped,” Skipper Ed sympathized.  “The lad has the measles, and if any of you haven’t had measles you’re likely to get ’em now.  The only thing for you to do if any one breaks out with the rash, is to treat him just as I said to treat the boy.  Don’t let ’em go out or get chilled till the rash is well.”