"
"The vessel is leaking badly," cried out one of the crew.
"Man the pumps," replied the captain. "Enough for all hands to do
now."
"Including me," responded Benjamin. "I can do as much as any of you at
the pump," and he went to work with the crew.
Suffice it to say, that the storm continued for days, tossing their
small craft about like a shell, keeping all hands busy, night and day,
sometimes the sea threatening to swallow the vessel and all it
contained in its hungry maw. The vessel was two weeks on its way to
Boston, encountering stormy weather nearly the whole time. Most of the
voyage the leaky craft was kept from sinking by pumping, in which
Benjamin took his turn, proving himself as efficient as any one of the
crew; and he was as cool and self-possessed as any one of the number.
At the end of two weeks they sailed into Boston harbor; and Benjamin
was at home.
XXIII.
THE SURPRISE, AND ITS RESULTS.
Benjamin hastened to the corner of Hanover and Union Streets, where
the sign of the familiar blue ball hung, and entered with a fluttering
heart.
"Benjamin!" exclaimed his father, "can that be you?" and he grasped
one of his hands in both of his. "How glad I am to see you!"
"No more glad than I am to see you," responded the son, shaking his
father's hand heartily. "I am glad to get home."
The words were scarcely off his tongue when his mother appeared upon
the scene.
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