nese raid
with great gusto. The Deputy Commissioner, who had heard nothing but the
official account of the fracas was intensely interested and he
questioned Colin closely, noting carefully the boy's clear understanding
of the seal question.

"You have a head for facts, Colin," he said approvingly, when the whole
adventure had been told, "because you really have noted the important
points in that sealing business, and it is more complicated than it
looks. Go on, now, and tell me how you came down from Valdez."

So Colin took up the story again, described his meeting with the
lieutenant of the revenue cutter and the kindness he had received from
him. The Deputy Commissioner smiled, for the officer in question was a
close personal friend. Then Colin told of the salmon tagging and of his
visit to the hatchery, not forgetting the capture of the sea-serpent.

"It seems to me," Dr. Crafts said jokingly, "that you have become a
public personage in connection with Fisheries even before you come into
the Bureau. To figure in a Japanese seal raid and to capture a
sea-serpent in the same summer is enough fame for anybody!"

Colin laughed and answered:

"After that it would seem a little like boasting, but----" he reached
into his pocket and pulled out the tuna button, safely stowed away in a
tightly-closed box.

The Deputy Commissioner whistled softly in surprise.

"And did you win this, too?" he asked. "You went to Santa Catalina,
then?"

"Yes, Dr. Crafts," the boy replied, and related his experiences while
there. He told the story well, and the Deputy Commissioner--who was a
master in that art--nodded appreciatively.

"So far as I can judge," he said, "the Bureau is the place for you. But
I don't know where to fit you in. It is getting on towards the middle of
August, and not only is the work all arranged for the summer, but most
of it is done."

"I just want to be at work," pleaded the boy, "for the experience, not
for what I can get out of it, of course."

"That sort of arrangement is impossible," answered the Deputy
Commissioner; "there is plenty of volunteer work done in the Bureau, but
such work is always along the line of special investigation, and it is
given to those who are equipped for research, usually university
professors. The assistants are always paid, and you see I couldn't very
well create a precedent on your account!"

"No, Dr. Crafts," answered Colin, quite disheartened; "I suppose not."

The D