e friend from the Bahamas, the
friend who steals. And yet you like him a little, is it not?"

"Oh!" cried John, looking up with all his heart in his blue eyes; and no
other word was needed.

"See, then!" the Skipper went on, still holding the boy's hand; "it is
that you are right, Colorado, oh, very right, my son! and I, who am old,
but old enough to be twice to you a father, I thought not of this. Yes,
you must tell Sir Scraper, if--if I do not tell him first." He was
silent a moment, thinking; and then continued, speaking slowly, choosing
his words with care: "Is it that you think, Colorado, it would be wrong
to wait a little before you tell Sir Scraper--if I said, till
to-morrow? If I ask you to wait, and then, if I have not told him, you
shall tell him,--what do you say of that, my son?"

John looked helplessly around, his blue eyes growing big and wistful
again. "If--if he should ask me!" he said. "I am sure you know all about
it, and that it is all right for you, but if he should ask me--you
see--I--I should have to answer him, shouldn't I?"

"You would have to answer him!" the Skipper repeated, frowning
thoughtfully. "And you could not tell him that there were flying-fish in
the cabin, eh, Colorado? Wait then, that your friend thinks. The mind
moves at times slowly, my son, slowly!"

He was silent, and John watched him, breathless.

Presently, "Will you come with me, Colorado?" asked the Skipper. "I
invite you to come, to spend the day on the 'Nautilus,' to play with
Jack and Jim, to polish the shells,--what you please. I desire not
longer to wait here, I desire not that yet Sir Scraper know of my visit.
Had he been here, other happenings might have been; as it is--shortly,
will you come with me, Colorado?"

John shut his eyes tight, and took possession of his soul.

"I promised!" he said, "I promised him that if he would not whip me this
morning I would not stir off the place. He was mad because I went
yesterday, and he was going to give me a good one this morning, and I
hadn't got over the last good one, and so--I promised that! But if I had
known you were coming," he cried, "I would not have promised, and I
would have taken three good ones, if I could only go."

The Skipper nodded, and was silent again. Suddenly he rose to his feet.

"Have you heard of pirates, Colorado?" he asked, abruptly.

John nodded, wondering.

"Of Malay pirates?" the Skipper continued, with animation. "They are
wild fellow