CHAPTER THIRTEEN.
A PICNIC UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
They need not have been alarmed.
Indeed, had she but given herself time for reflection, Nellie must have known this without any further assurance than the faithful Rover's bark, which would have been of quite a different tone had any stranger or suspicious person invaded the spot he was left to guard.
In such case, the good dog would have growled in the most unmistakable manner, besides giving warning of there being danger ahead by a different intonation of his expressive voice.
He did not growl now, however, although he who had invaded the sacred picnic ground where their provender was so lavishly displayed was, in one sense, a stranger, being not one of the original members of the festive party who had set out from "The Moorings." The reason for this was that the new-comer, really, was not a real "stranger" in the sense of the word.

The intruder was, in fact, Hellyer, the coastguardsman, whom Rover had seen only so recently as that very morning, when of course master doggie had accompanied Bob to the beach for his bathe; and so, naturally, there was every reason for his receiving Hellyer in a friendly manner.

Hence, his bark, alarming though it might have sounded at the first go off to Nell and her aunt, was found now to have been a bark of recognition and joy and not one of warning.
Mrs Gilmour felt such a sensation of relief at the sight of Hellyer that her feelings prevented her from speaking.

As she told Nell afterwards, she "couldn't have uttered a word to save her life"; and there she remained, "staring at the poor man," to use her own expression, and one that savoured thoroughly of her country, "as if he were a stuck pig!" Hellyer, however, did not remain dumb.
"Beg pardon, mum," said he respectfully, doffing his sailor hat and touching his forehead with his forefinger in nautical salute; "but, 'ave you seen the Cap'en anywheres about here, mum ?" "You mean Captain Dresser, I suppose ?" replied Mrs Gilmour, recovering her loss of speech at the sound of his voice, at least so it seemed; the good lady answering the coastguardsman's question in her usual way, by asking him another!--"Eh, what, my man ?" "Yes, mum.

I've a message for him from our commander, mum; and they told me at the house as how he were over at Seaview, so, mum, I comes across by the next boat." "Well, he isn't very far-off, Hellyer," said Mrs Gilmour smiling; "I didn't recognise you at first, sure, I was in such a terrible fright on hearing the dog bark, least somebody was making off with our luncheon.
I'm really glad it's only you." "And I'm glad, too, mum." "So glad you're glad I'm glad!" whispered Nellie to her aunt, quoting something she had seen in an old volume of _Punch_, and going into fits of laughter.