e wheel, and the launch
darted toward him. When within a hundred yards the whir of the big
engine and the chugging of the two-cycle motor of the yawl stopped,
and as the boats were passing each other, Mr. Barstow hailed the
skipper of the yawl.

"Oh, Captain Hull! All's well. The boys have been found. Spread the
news. Hunt up the other boats and all hands report to me at Myers."

"Aye, aye, sir!" came from the bronze statue, and the chugging and
the whirring began again as the yawl resumed its course, while the
launch wove in and out among the oyster reefs, that guard the mouth
of the river, at a speed that would have torn the propeller out of
her had she struck one of them.

Dick's eyes sparkled as the Gulf opened out, and the launch turned
down the coast to clear the bar before making her course. Before him
were the waters where the waterspout destroyed the _Etta_; the
Shark River bight was near, and in the distance the cocoa-palms of
the Northwest Cape could be made out. He turned eagerly to the girl
beside him, and was telling her the story of the waterspout when Mr.
Barstow came to them and said:

"Run away, little girl, I want to talk to Dick."

"So do I," said Molly as she made a little face at her father, who
laughed at her.

"You mustn't think you own Dick. Go play with Tom, there. He looks
pretty amiable just now."

"But he won't let me play with Tom. He's mean about that."

Dick began to explain, but the girl had gone.

"What are your plans for your future, Dick?" asked Mr. Barstow.

"I am going home and going to work at anything I can find to do."

"How would you like to work for me?"

"I don't know of anything else in the world I would like so well."
And Dick fairly beamed.

"Then, if the work suits you, your engagement will date from
to-day."

"What will be my duties, sir?"

"First a vacation to get well in and visit your mother. Then you and
Ned will go to my timber property in Canada, familiarize yourselves
with the present methods of working it, and suggest any improvements
that occur to you, and make the best estimate you can of the amount
and kind of lumber I have. I don't care for present returns, but I
wish the property administered in accordance with the most advanced
knowledge of the science of forestry."

"Mr. Barstow, you are good to me, too good, and I am as grateful as
I can be, but I can't take money for amusing myself. You would be
paying me for taking the most delightf