take his pipe out of his mouth,
and bow his shaggy head while the boy repeated the few words of thanks
he had been taught, a feeling of gratitude came into her heart, and her
eyes became moist.

There was silence for a few minutes when Rod finished. The captain
puffed at his pipe, while Mrs. Britt began to clear away the dishes.

"Kin ye swim, lad?" Captain Josh suddenly asked, in his deep gruff
voice.

"No, I can't," was the somewhat nervous reply.

"Ever been in the water?"

"Oh, yes. Lots of times."

"And ye can't swim. Well, ye'll have to git over that if ye're round
where I am."

"Can you swim, Captain Josh?" Rod asked.

"Ho, ho," and the old man leaned back in his chair and shook with
laughter. "Kin I swim? Why, boy, I could swim before I was as old as
you. When I was fifteen I could swim across the river."

"You could!" and Rod's eyes shone with admiration. "Did you ever swim
across the ocean, captain?"

"Not quite, lad. Not quite that far."

"Well, then, I will some day, Captain Josh," Rod cried, as he rose to
his feet, and stood erect. "When I'm a man, I'll swim across the ocean
and back again before breakfast, see if I don't."

"That'll be quite an undertakin', lad," and the captain's eyes
twinkled. "I hope I'll be standin' on the shore when ye git back. I
guess ye'll have more cause fer thankfulness then than ye did after
eatin' yer dinner to-day. But come," and he rose suddenly to his feet;
"I want ye to help me put out my net. Ye must take a nice fresh
pickerel home with ye when ye go."

What a wonderful afternoon that was to Rod! Most of the time was spent
upon the water, and he received his first real instructions about the
handling of the _Roaring Bess_, the ropes, sail, port and starboard, to
say nothing of his lesson in splicing. There was also the swim in the
little secluded cove, with the captain as an excellent teacher. Rod
little realised that he was being thoroughly sounded as to his
qualities and capabilities.

"Ye'll do, lad," was the captain's comment, when at last they came
ashore. "Ye're worth botherin' with, I kin see that all right. If ye
don't know more'n yer master in a few months, I'll be much surprised.
So, there now, take this pickerel to yer grandma, and tell her that ye
took it out of the net yerself, and don't ferget to give her my
compliments."

CHAPTER VIII

THE CHUMS TO THE RESCUE

Parson Dan and Mrs. Royal were greatly interested i