I wouldn't mind betting a brass farthing I'll find Master Bob there hobnobbing with Hellyer and Dick.
He's very fond of going there to listen to my old coxswain's yarns when he has got a chance." "I'll come with you," said Mr Strong, not liking to let him go alone, besides also beginning to feel anxious, adding to his wife-- "Go in, Edith! you need not be uneasy.

We'll soon bring back our young truant!" So saying, he and the Captain, followed by Rover with drooping tail, started for the coastguard-station on the beach.
However, on getting there, their fears, instead of being dispelled, were, on the contrary, alarmingly heightened! Hellyer told them that he had not come on duty until a late hour in the day; and had then not seen anything of either Bob or Dick.
"The man as I relieved," continued the coastguardsman, "told me as how he seed two boys in the Cap'en's boat about midday; and, all at once, arter his dinner, for which he goes into the cabin, you know, he misses the boat and the boys too.

But, he doesn't think anythink o' this, he says, believin' they has took her into the harbour." "Confound him!" cried the Captain excitedly.

"Who was the man?
He ought to have known something was wrong when he saw the two lads alone in her like that." "He would be a stranger to you, sir," said Hellyer.

"He wer' a man from the Hayling beat as just come on fresh to jine this station here to-day, sir.