CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.
BIGLEY DOES NOT THINK HIS FATHER IS A DOG.
We went up to the cottage two or three times, to find Mother Bonnet keeping up the fire and the table laid for a second supper; and then we went back to the beach.
Everything was perfectly still.

The mine people had long before gone to bed, but we watched on, feeling sure that something was going to happen; and so it was that about half-past twelve we heard oars, and soon after made out a boat which was being pulled by four men, while as soon as we were seen a voice cried from the boat: "Ahoy! Who's there ?" "Father!" cried Bigley excitedly.
"Hush! Who's there ?" said old Jonas as we felt quite stunned with surprise.
"Only Bob Chowne and Sep Duncan, father." "No one else ?" "No one." "Pull, my lads!" cried old Jonas; and as the boat grated on the beach he leaped ashore.
"I shall not be a quarter of an hour," he said.

"Keep her afloat.
Here, Bigley." He caught his son's arm and they went up to the cottage together at a trot, and in less than a quarter of an hour they were back again, and old Jonas clapped me on the shoulder.
"Look here, Duncan," he said, "I always liked you, my boy, because you and Bigley were such mates." "Are you going to take Big away, sir ?" I said.
"No, boy, but I'm going to ask you to be a true mate to him still.

He's going to stay with Mother Bonnet." "I will, sir," I said.
"That you will, my lad," he cried, shaking hands.

"Now, Bigley, no snivelling--be a man! Good-bye! I'll write." He shook hands with his son, seized a bag they had brought down between them, and the next minute he was on board the boat and they disappeared into the darkness.
"How came he back again, Big ?" I whispered as we listened to the beat of the oars which came from out of the gloom.
"Doubled back along with the French boat _La Belle Hirondelle_.