the moorings, when the captain wished John to take the Blowout over to
her berth, and they would take him on board again. He consented, and
the two boats were soon headed towards the beach; but the Fawn made
three rods as often as the Blowout made one.

At last John worked the clumsy old boat up to the beach, and jumped on
board the Fawn. The language with which he expressed his satisfaction at
her performance under sail was not very elegant or well chosen; but it
undoubtedly expressed his opinion, so that no mistakes in regard to his
meaning could have been excused.

"You like her, do you, Paul?" asked Captain Littleton for the tenth
time.

"Very much indeed. She is a beauty! Who owns her, sir?"

"She belongs to a young friend of mine--one Paul Duncan."

"Sir! What!"

"Exactly so, Paul. She belongs to you, and henceforth you are to be the
skipper of the Fawn."

CHAPTER X.

PAUL AND JOHN ARE VERY MUCH EXCITED.

Paul was overwhelmed with astonishment and delight at this unexpected
declaration. His eyes filled with tears, and he could not utter a word
to express the gratitude that filled his heart.

"Yes, Paul, you shall hereafter be the skipper of the Fawn," repeated
Captain Littleton.

"And I shall be first mate!" exclaimed John, jumping up and clapping his
hands with rapture.

"Yes, and you shall be first mate, John; for I have not forgotten that a
part of my debt of gratitude for the rescue of my daughter is in your
favor, my fine fellow. The Fawn shall be owned between you."

"Thank you, sir," replied John; "but it was Paul that saved Carrie."

"If you had not handled the old boat well, Paul could not have saved
her. You are fairly entitled to a share of the honor of that noble
exploit."

"But, Captain Littleton," interposed Paul, "I do not want to be paid for
what I did. It was only my duty to save Carrie."

"Everybody does not do his duty in such a trying time as that was,
Paul. But I have not said a word about paying you."

"I know you have not, sir; but I suppose that is what you mean."

"I mean nothing of the kind, my boy. I could not pay you. There lies the
Flyaway," continued the Captain, pointing to his beautiful yacht; "she
cost me six thousand dollars. If I were called upon to decide which I
would lose, Carrie or the Flyaway, which should I choose?"

"The Flyaway, of course."

"Then the Flyaway would have been but a small compensation for my child.
Nay, if I were called u