In the Haunts of Wild Fowl 129 



but hours, and the fatal one dawns, the very 

 last I dare to spend. There are engagements 

 to be met back in that dimly remembered 

 little world where they have mails, telegraph 

 lines, railroads and newspapers. How I hate 

 it all now! I resolve, when I go back, to 

 make a million dollars, sail away and never 

 return except for coal and water. 



The order is given to get under way. 

 The boys beg for one more day, but at last 

 give up, begin to swallow lumps in their 

 throats, and fight to keep back the tears. I 

 know my boys do this, because their father 

 and mother do the same thing when they are 

 not looking. 



We are homeward bound now, with her 

 big yacht ensign set aft and her colors at her 

 masthead. Every heart is heavy and no 

 one speaks. We feel as though we are sail- 

 ing away into a strange world. 



