ch
lines, ganged on a new hook, and rigged an extra sinker for use in case
of accident.

"Going a fishing, Paul?" said John Duncan, his brother, a lad of ten,
who joined him when he had nearly completed his preparations.

"I'm going down in the morning to get a mess of perch for Captain
Littleton."

"Let me go with you, Paul?"

"You must go to school."

"It don't keep."

"Ask mother, then; if she is willing, I am."

"Have you got a line for me?"

"Yes."

John Duncan, for his years, was almost as much of a sailor and fisherman
as Paul. Both of them took to the water like ducks, and seemed to
understand all about a boat as if by instinct. The prospect of a day
down below fired the imagination of the "young salt," and he ran up the
bluff with all his might to obtain the desired permission.

"May I go a-fishing with Paul to-morrow, mother?" shouted he, as he
rushed into the parlor, without noticing the presence of Captain
Littleton.

"We will see about that by and by. Take off your cap."

"How do you do, John?" said Captain Littleton.

"Pretty well," replied John, whose head keeled over on the port side,
as he discovered the visitor, and three fingers found their way into his
mouth.

"You want to go a-fishing, do you?"

"Yes, sir."

"Do you think it is safe to let him go?" asked Mrs. Duncan.

"I ain't afraid, mother," interrupted the young hopeful.

"I know you are not, and that's one reason why I don't like to trust you
in the boat."

"Your boys take to the water in a natural way; and when boys have a
decided taste of that kind, it isn't of much use to thwart them."

"I know it isn't; but John has worried my life out since he was four
years old, for he is always in the water."

"I should use proper precaution with him; but Paul is so good a boatman
that I should not be afraid to trust him in his care."

"You may go, John," added Mrs. Duncan. "I have almost made up my mind to
let him live in the water; but I can't help going to the window when he
is out on the beach, at least twenty times a day, to see if he isn't in
trouble."

"To return to Paul," said Captain Littleton, resuming the remarks which
the entrance of John had interrupted. "I have the refusal of a place in
a lawyer's office, where the salary is two dollars and a half a week.
It is small pay, but it is better than nothing."

"He expects more than that. It would have astonished you to hear him
talk a little while ago. He is going