第148页 / 共416页

"All right," said Bijonah weakly; "come along then. But mind,

you'll find things different. Your mother is boss of any land she

puts her foot on, but once I get the Rosan past Swallowtail my

word goes."

"All right, daddy dear," laughed the girl; "I know you'll be just

the finest captain I ever sailed with." She kissed him

impulsively and ran up-stairs to tell her mother the good news.

The departure of the fleet from Grande Mignon was a sad day in

the history of the island.

The sun had hardly shown red and dripping from the sea when all

the inhabitants were astir. Men from as far south as Seal Cove

and Great Harbor clattered up the King's Road in rickety

vehicles, accompanied by their families and their dunnage.