ticipated. He attributed his ready victory in a great measure to the
influence of Captain Littleton's name, and he was confident he would
remove any remaining doubts she might harbor.

After dinner Paul went up to his room, and taking from his drawer a
little account book, which had long been waiting to be used, he entered
the amount of the day's sales upon the first page.

"Little by little," said he, as he returned the book to the drawer, "and
one of these days I shall be rich."

This was a very comforting reflection, and notwithstanding the possible
slip between the cup and the lip, he enjoyed the full benefit of it.

CHAPTER VII.

PAUL GOES INTO BUSINESS ON HIS OWN ACCOUNT.

Before night, all the arrangements for the next day's trip were
completed, and Paul retired at an early hour, so as to be up in season
in the morning. The excitement which his great project created in his
mind, however, would not let him sleep till he was actually exhausted
with thinking. He did not wake till five o'clock in the morning, which
made him so ashamed of himself, that he could hardly conceal his
vexation, especially as he found his mother was up, and his breakfast
was nearly ready, when he went down-stairs. But on reflection he found
he was early enough, for it would be low tide nearly an hour later than
on the preceding day.

While he was eating his breakfast, his brother John came down. It was an
unusually early hour for him to rise, and it was evident from the haste
with which he completed his toilet, after he found Paul had not gone,
that he had an idea of his own, as well as his brother.

"Mayn't I go with you, Paul?" asked he.

"You must go to school."

"Mayn't I stay away from school to-day, mother?" added he, turning
quickly to Mrs. Duncan.

"I'd rather you wouldn't, John."

"Why not, mother?" whined he.

"I don't want you to stay out of school a single day, when it can be
prevented."

"I should think I might go with Paul. I can catch as many fish as he
can."

"Paul is older than you are, and he always kept close to his school till
he left."

"I want to do something towards supporting the family, as well as he."

Mrs. Duncan laughed, and so did Paul; for however ambitious the young
gentleman might have been to bear his full share of the burden of the
family, it was too evident that his taste for boating and fishing was
the dominant motive for absenting himself from school.

"Let me go with you,