“Well, Ruby?”

“It is that you will take care of my cash for me.  I have got a goodish lot of it, and find it rather heavy to carry in my pockets—­so, hold your apron steady and I’ll give it to you.”

Saying this he began to empty handful after handful of coppers into the old woman’s apron; then, remarking that “that was all the browns”, he began to place handful after handful of shillings and sixpences on the top of the pile until the copper was hid by silver.

The old lady, as usual when surprised, became speechless; the captain smiled and Minnie laughed, but when Ruby put his hand into another pocket and began to draw forth golden sovereigns, and pour them into his mother’s lap, the captain became supremely amazed, the old woman laughed, and,—­so strangely contradictory and unaccountable is human nature,—­Minnie began to cry.

Poor girl! the tax upon her strength had been heavier than anyone knew, heavier than she could bear, and the sorrow of knowing, as she had come to know, that it was all in vain, and that her utmost efforts had failed to “keep the wolf from the door”, had almost broken her down.  Little wonder, then, that the sight of sudden and ample relief upset her altogether.

But her tears, being tears of joy, were soon and easily dried—­all the more easily that it was Ruby who undertook to dry them.

Mrs. Brand sat up late that night, for there was much to tell and much to hear.  After she had retired to rest the other three continued to hold converse together until grey dawn began to appear through the chinks in the window-shutters.  Then the two men rose and went out, while Minnie laid her pretty little head on the pillow beside Mrs. Brand, and sought, and found, repose.

CHAPTER VIII

THE SCENE CHANGES—­RUBY IS VULCANIZED

As Captain Ogilvy had predicted, Ruby was at once engaged as an assistant blacksmith on the Bell Rock.  In fact, they were only too glad to get such a powerful, active young fellow into their service; and he was shipped off with all speed in the sloop Smeaton, with a few others who were going to replace some men who had become ill and were obliged to leave.

A light westerly breeze was blowing when they cast off the moorings of the sloop.

“Goodbye, Ruby,” said the captain, as he was about to step on the pier.  “Remember your promise, lad, to keep quiet, and don’t try to get ashore, or be hold communication with anyone till you hear from me.”

“All right, uncle, I won’t forget, and I’ll make my mind easy, for I know that my case is left in good hands.”