I? I come
to this house, without special plan, to spy out the land, do we say? I
find my uncle forth of the house; I find my child travailing in the
garden. Good! The time appears to me accepted. I enter, I search, I find
the cupboard, I find the paper. Briefly, Senors both, behold me
possessor of this house, this garden, this domain royal."

He handed a paper to the doctor, who read it carefully, and nodded. Mr.
Scraper made an attempt to clutch it in passing, but grasped the air
only.

"What then, in finality, do I say?" the Skipper went on. "Do I desire to
stay in this place? Wishing not to grieve the Senor Pike, whom greatly I
esteem, I consider it unfit for the human being. Of property, I have
little desire; I have for my wants enough, I have my 'Nautilus,' I have
my boys, to what end should I retain these cold spots of earth, never
before seen by me? To what purpose, I ask it of you, Senors? Therefore,
in finality, I say to my revered uncle this: Give to me the child, give
to me the boy, that I take away and make a sailor, for which he was
born; and I of my part surrender house and garden, even any money bags
which may be, what know I, perhaps at this moment in the bed of my
revered uncle concealed?"

The old man gave a convulsive shudder at this, and shrieked faintly; all
started, but the Skipper laughed.

"You see, Senor Pike, and Senor Doctor, greatly respected! Who shall
know how great sums this ancient fish has hidden under him? Let him keep
them, these sums. I take the child, and I go my way. Is it finished,
uncle of my heart? Is it finished, venerable iniquity? Can you part with
the child, beloved, even as your old father was beloved, and like him
caressed and tenderly entreated? Answer, thou!"

But before Mr. Scraper could speak, little John stepped forward, very
pale, but clear in his mind.

"If you please," he said, "I should like to speak. If you please, he
(indicating the Skipper,) is so kind, and--and--he knows what I--he
knows things I have thought about, but he does not know all. Cousin
Scraper, you may be sick now, perhaps a long time, and perhaps you have
gone upon your bed to die, like that king in the Bible who had figs put
on; only he got well.

"And I want to stay and take care of you, and--and I will do as well as
I know how, and I think I can work more than I used to, because I know
more, these last days, than I did, and--and--I think that is all. But if
you don't mind--if you woul