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Reuben's younger son, Simon Lanaherne, had gone aft and sat down by the side of the rescued man. "He is coming to, I believe." "Which of the poor lads is he, Simon?" asked his father. Simon felt the man's face and dress, bending his head down to try and scan his features. "I cannot quite make out; but I am nearly sure it is Michael Penguyne," answered Simon.
"I am afraid not, Nelly," observed the rough fisherman, putting his hand on her head; "but you know you and your brother will always find a friend in Reuben Lanaherne. An honest man's children will never want, and if there ever was an honest man, your poor father is one. I will keep a look-out for Michael, but do not be cast down, Nelly; we shall see him before long."
"He has not come on shore yet, father, but Uncle Lanaherne is looking out for him," said Nelly. "I wanted to see him again," whispered Paul. "It will be too late if he does not come now; so tell him, Nelly, that I do bless him, and I bless you, Nelly, bless you, bless you;" and his voice became fainter. Nelly, seeing a change come over her father's features, cried out for her granny.
The fisherman spoke in a cheery tone, but still he could not help feeling more anxiety than he expressed for Michael. Every moment the wind was increasing, and the heavy seas which came rolling in showed that a gale had been blowing for some time outside. Nelly hastened back to tell her father what Uncle Lanaherne had said.
His wife and daughter were seated at their work, but he was not there. Agitated and breathless from encountering the fierce wind, she could scarcely speak as she entered. "Sit down, maiden; what ails thee?" said Dame Lanaherne, rising, and kindly placing her on a stool by her side. Nelly could only answer with sobs. Just then old Reuben himself entered, shaking the spray from his thick coat.
Nelly then told Eban how Michael had gone away with the boat in the morning and had not returned. "I will go and search for him then," he said. "He has run in somewhere, perhaps, along the coast. I wonder, when you spoke to Uncle Lanaherne, that he did not set off at once. But I will go.
"Father told us to make haste home; but he has gone off in the `Rescue' with Uncle Reuben Lanaherne to look after the `Sea-Gull, which they say has lost her mast, and was seen driving on the Gull Rock; there is little hope of any of the poor lads escaping aboard her." "What is that you say," shrieked poor Nelly; "the `Sea-Gull' driving on shore?"
"But, granny, I have been thinking of getting little Mary Lanaherne, Uncle Reuben's granddaughter, to go to market with me while you stay at home; she is quite ready to agree to my plan," said Nelly. "Ah, I see you want to become a fine lady now you are going to marry, and have an attendant of your own," said the dame, laughing.
That's all I want. If he had been with me in the little `Duck, we might have gained the harbour and saved her, and though I take all the care I can, yet I may be caught again in the same way." David Treloar was a nephew of old Reuben Lanaherne, who had done his best to bring up the poor lad, and make a fisherman of him.
At last she determined to call at the cottage of Reuben Lanaherne, a friend of her father's, though a somewhat older man. "What is it brings you here, my pretty maiden?" said Uncle Reuben, who, for a wonder, was at home, as Nelly, after gently knocking, lifted the latch and entered a room with sanded floor and blue painted ceiling.
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