of them."

"'Twould seem like a waste o' time," remarked Thomas, "if they
catches so few. I'd never walk all day for a dozen trout unless I was
wonderful hard up for grub. If I were wantin' fish so bad I'd set a
net for whitefish or salmon, or if there were cod grounds about I'd
gig for cod, though salmon or cod or whitefish would never be takin'
the place o' good fresh trout with me."

"It's not altogether for the trout the sportsmen tramp the streams all
day," laughed Doctor Joe. "They prize the trout they get as a great
delicacy, to be sure, but it's the joy of getting out into the open
that pays them for the effort. I've done it myself. They get plenty of
sea fish, they buy them at the shops."

"I never were thinkin' o' that," said Thomas. "I'm thinkin', now,
that's where all the salmon we salts down and sells to the Post goes."

The boys were vastly interested, and asked many questions, which
Doctor Joe answered with infinite patience, concerning the various
kinds of fish people bought in the shops, and how the fish were caught
and shipped to the shops to be sold fresh.

"And you'll stay now? You'll not be leavin' The Labrador again?"
asked Thomas, after supper.

"Aye," said Doctor Joe, "I've elected to be a Labradorman." Then,
turning to the boys, he suggested:

"Lads, there are a lot of things in that skiff of mine. I wish you'd
bring them in. Will you do it while your father and I visit?"

The boys were not only glad but eager to do it, for there were
doubtless many surprises for themselves in the skiff, and with one
accord the three hurried out.

"Years ago, Thomas," said Doctor Joe, when the boys were gone, "in my
days in New York, I invested a little money in a mining property.
Shortly after I made the investment it was said the ore had run out,
and I believed my money was lost. When I returned to New York this
summer I found that more ore had been found later, and the mine had
earned me a lot of money. I invested what was due to me in such a way
that it will bring me an income each year sufficient to provide me
with all I shall ever need."

"Oh, but that's fine now!" said Thomas.

"Thomas," Doctor Joe continued "I should not have been able to enjoy
this had it not been for your kindness to me years ago, when I came
first to The Labrador a man of broken health. If you had not offered
me your friendship then I should have died an invalid in poverty.

"I've thought of this a thousand times. I be