Dick," he added, "run and fetch some for us, like a good lad." Nell had brought with her from home a little tin bucket, which she usually took down to the shore for collecting sea-anemones and other specimens for her aquarium; so, catching hold of this, Dick started off in the direction of the tiny brook they had crossed some little time before, returning anon with the bucket brimming full.
Miss Nell and Bob thereupon set to work in high glee at their extempore ablutions; and, when they had subsequently dried their faces in their pocket-handkerchiefs, both presented a much improved appearance.
With the exception of a few scratches, they bore little traces of the fray, the blood-stains, which looked at first sight so very dreadful, having vanished on the application of the cold water, as the Captain had prophesied.
"There, ma'am," cried he now exultingly; pointing this out to Mrs Gilmour, "I told you so, didn't I?
`all cry and little wool,' eh, ho, ho, ho!" "That may be," retorted she; "but, water won't mend Nellie's dress." "Well then, ma'am, I will," replied the Captain.

"You'll always find a sailor something of a tailor, if he's worth his salt!" He laughed when he said this, and his imperturbable good-humour banished the last vestige of Mrs Gilmour's vexation at the children's plight.
"Sure, and you shan't do anything of the sort," she said smiling.

"I'll run up Nell's tatters meesilf!" As she spoke she produced from her pocket--a handy little "housewife," containing needles and thread, as well as a thimble, which useful articles the good lady seldom stirred out without; and, sitting down on a shawl which the Captain spread over a bit of turf that he assured her was free from nettles, and ten yards at least from the nearest rabbit-burrow, she proceeded to sew away at a brisk rate on the torn frock of Miss Nellie, who sat herself demurely beside her aunt.
"Will you be long ?" inquired the old sailor, after watching her busy fingers some little time, getting slightly fidgety.

"Eh, ma'am ?" "I should think it will be quite an hour before I shall be able to make the child decent," she replied.

"Why do you ask ?" "Humph!" ejaculated the Captain, as he always did when cogitating some knotty point, "I'll tell you, ma'am.