IT WAS GOD'S WILL Skipper Ed was appalled and stunned.

A sense of great weakness came upon him, and he swayed, and with an effort prevented his knees from doubling under him.

His vision became clouded, like the vision of one in a dream.
His brain became paralyzed, inert, and he was hardly able to comprehend the terrible tragedy that he believed inevitable.
Had there been any means at his command whereby he could at least have attempted a rescue, it would have served as a safety valve.

But he was utterly and absolutely helpless to so much as lift a finger to relieve the two boys whom he loved so well and who had become so much a part of his life.
And there was Abel Zachariah and Mrs.Abel.Vaguely he remembered them and the great sorrow that this thing would bring upon them.

He knew well that they would place none of the responsibility upon himself, but, nevertheless, he could but feel that had he remained with the boys they would now have been safe.
Home?
His cabin would never be home to him again, without his partner.
He could never go over to Abel Zachariah's again of evenings, with no Bobby there.