The Leader of the Lower School

en of th

his profession was obliged to visit many out-of-the-way spots in various corners of the globe. As Gipsy was all he had left to remind him of her dead mother, he never could bear to be parted from her for long, and he would generally contrive to put her to school at some place within tolerably easy reach of

od the making of "billy" tea, and could find her own way where a town-bred girl would have been hopelessly lost. The roving life had fostered her naturally enterprising disposition; she loved change and variety and adventure, and in fact was as thorough-hearted a young gipsy as any black-eyed Romany who

ton. Gipsy was an excellent sailor, and thoroughly enjoyed life at sea. She would cajole the captain to allow her to walk upon the bridge, or peep inside the wheelhouse; or persuade the second mate to take her to inspect the engines, or teach h

hrough his pocket telescope at the outline of Cape Finisterre. "I think we m

ds gathering, and I shouldn't be surprised if we had a rough night of it in th

er been in a big storm. The wind may just blow, and blow, and blow to-night. The old sailor who

nt for us if we're to get across the Bay in comfort. You'

ater was already beginning to justify its bad reputation. Gipsy had the satisfaction, not only of seeing the racks used at dinner, but of witnessing half the contents of her pl

timer, as he bade Gipsy good night. "Mind you don't get pitched

fearful storm. The vessel was tossed about like a cork: one moment her bows would be plumped deep in the water, and her stern lifted in mid-air, with the wh

d fallen to the floor, and her boots, clothes, hairbrush, books, and indeed all her possessions were chasing one another backwards and forwards with each lurch of the vessel. The noise was terrific: the howling of the wind and th

r. Gipsy hid her face in her pillow. It would pass, she supposed, as the other waves had passed, and they would steam on as before. Then all at once she sat up in her berth. The great throb, lik

d you! No, no! You can't wait to dress! We've sprung a bad leak, and the capt

ul gleams of moonlight Gipsy could see towering waves rise like great mountains, and fall against the ship. The sailors were already lowering the boats, and she could hear the sound of the captain's speaking-trumpet as he sh

s?" asked Mr. Latimer, as the

hasty reply. "Come at once; the vessel is filling

a perilous passage; for a few seconds she swung in mid-air, with only blinding foam and spray around her. Then there was a shout, she was grasped by strong hands from below, and drawn down into a place of comparative security. In another minute her father had followed her, and was seated by h

p. Hour after hour went by. Cold, hungry, and drenched to the skin, Gipsy tried to be brave, and to bear patiently what she knew must be endured equally by all. The sun rose high, and shone down warmly upon them, but there was still no sign of either land or a ship. It was long past noon when one of the crew, with a jubilant shout, pointed eagerly to a tiny black streak of smoke on the horizon, which they knew

e saved!" excla

y of a tall liner, and that she saw a long row of excited passengers staring at her over the railings; then all became a bl

ave her all right again. Ah, here comes the beef tea! A few hours of sound sleep wi

e Waves had been on her way to Liverpool, and Mr. Latimer decided to make a brief stay there, to secure new clothes for himself and Gipsy, and to gain time to make fresh plans for the future. Though he had fortunate

kind in lending me things, but they didn't fit. Mrs. Hales' skirt swept the deck, and Mrs. Campbell's jacket was miles too big for me. I must have looked an elegant object whe

at. All my valuable papers are gone, child! You don't realize yet what that means. It makes such an eno

sked Gipsy quickly, for he

plete change of all my plans. Instead of our going on to Ame

her wreck, if you are! It'll seem rather funny to

s silent for a

ake you back with me to the Cape. I want to go up-country, into some rather wild places, pl

e never going to

nd you'd have more advantages in the way of education than in South Africa. It can't be helped, and we must both try to make the best of

knockabout life had taught her self-control and sound common sense in many resp

to go to?" she ask

ce called Greyfield. He said his niece used to be there once, and l

uldn't we have just o

ight have been worse, and I suppose I shall manage to pull my affairs round in course of time. It's no good crying over spilt milk, is it? Wh

t I help the least little atom of a scr

ng here in England, and making

usand miles apart before, and-well, it will seem queer to be left

arcroft Hall, and, taking Gipsy to Greyfield, had arranged to leave her in Miss Poppleton's charge until such time as he could come again and fetch her. How she