the fisherman, calls him Old Ben. He was
the boatswain on my father's ship."

"Well, I want to see him. Come with me."

The two strolled over to the fisherman's cabin, where Tom and Ben were
found smoking their pipes and telling each other sea stories. It did not
take Mr. Leeds long to come to the point, and, when the whole story had
been repeated, the broker asked the fisherman whether the Orion could be
relied upon to make such a trip.

"Well, there's a risk about it, of course," was the reply; "but the
Orion is a mighty fine boat--mighty fine. She would stand up before a
good stiff gale, and Old Ben, here, is just the man to handle her."

"Well, then, Old Ben, will you go along and run her?" asked the broker.

"Now, I ain't a holdin' out any promises that we will find the cap'n,"
and the old salt shook his head. "It's my opinion that the chances is
all agin' it. But if the youngster wants to go, and as Tom says the boat
is a good one, why, I don't mind makin' the trip. It may be there is
something behind it all and that the cap'n is still alive; but, as I
said--"

"I don't ask you to go for nothing, you understand," interrupted the
broker.

He took out his pocket-book again and selected five twenty-dollar
bills.

"You don't make more than twelve or fifteen dollars a month before the
mast. Here are one hundred dollars, and if you find the cap'n, there is
more for you."

"Thankee, sir," said the boatswain, with a bob of the head. "But I
didn't expect that. I would have gone without it. Yes, I will go, and we
will find the cap'n, if he's in the land of the livin'. If he ain't,
why, then--he ain't; and that's all there is about it."

"We shall have to get off in the morning; or, rather, as soon as
possible," said Clyde, delighted with the prospect. "My uncle will have
me in his clutches to-morrow, and if he gets hold of me there may be
trouble."

"I think that is the best way," approved the broker. "You will need some
stores, but you cannot get them here. You will have to run in to New
York and take them aboard."

"Yes, that's right," assented Old Ben.

"And you had better take out papers that will allow you to cruise as a
yacht. I will have the Orion made over to Clyde, so he will be your
owner, and you will find him a good sailor as well."

"If he is anything like his father, he will do," said the boatswain.
"Well, Tom and me will overhaul the yacht, and I will go aboard at once.
Just as soon as the