They heard, about a mile from home, the school bell ringing for call-over, and groaned inwardly when presently it ceased, and they knew their names were being called over and not one of them there to answer.

Parson alone made any attempt to keep up the drooping spirits of his crew.
"Never fear.

We'll pay them out, you see.

And if they do report us we'll only get impots.

The beasts! I wish we'd run into them and drowned them all! so I do." At this point the speaker became aware of an outrigger skiff rapidly approaching them.