The stones came away easily in my hand.
With another hurried look, I slipped the packet into the opening, stole out of the shed, and entered the house by the back door.
My mother had been up for some time--it was now about nine o'clock-- and had prepared our breakfast.

Her face was still pale, but some of its anxiety left it as I entered.

She was evidently waiting for me to speak.

Something in my looks, however, must have frightened her, for, as I said nothing, she began to question me.
"Well, Jasper, is there any news ?" "There was a ship wrecked on Dead Man's Rock last night, but they've not found anything except--" "What was it called ?" "The _Mary Jane_--that is--I don't quite know." Up to this time I had forgotten that mother would want to know about my doings that morning.

As an ordinary thing, of course I should have told her whatever I had seen or heard, but my terror of the Captain and the awful consequences of saying too much now flashed upon me with hideous force.