hased after them with thumping peg-leg to inquire
whether he should first perfect the model of the "cat identifier,"
or develop his idea of an automatic chore-doer, started by the
rooster tripping a trigger as he descended to take his matutinal
sniff of air.

"You just keep in practise with that thing," commanded the Cap'n,
pointing to the cow's horn.

"I don't see even yet how you are goin' to do it," remarked Hiram,
as they separated a half-hour later at Cap'n Sproul's gate.

"Nor I," said the Cap'n; "but a lot of meditation and a little prayer
will do wonders in this world, especially when you're mad enough."

XX

The night seemed to afford counsel, for the next day Cap'n Sproul
walked into the dooryard of Colonel Gideon Ward with features
composed to an almost startling expression of amiability. The
Colonel, haunted by memories and stung by a guilty conscience,
appeared at the door, and his mien indicated that he was prepared
for instant and desperate combat.

At the end of a half-hour's discourse, wholly by the Cap'n, his face
had lost a measure of its belligerency, but sullen fear had taken
its place. For Cap'n Sproul's theme had been the need of peace and
mutual confidence in families, forbearance and forgetfulness of
injuries that had been mutual. The Cap'n explained that almost always
property troubles were the root of family evils, and that as soon
as property disputes were eliminated in his case, he at once had come
to a realizing sense of his own mistakes and unfair attitude, and
had come to make frank and manly confession, and to shake hands. Would
the Colonel shake hands?

The Colonel shook hands apprehensively, bending back and ready to
duck a blow. Would the Colonel consent to mutual forgiveness, and
to dwell thereafter in bonds of brotherly affection? The Colonel had
only voiceless stammerings for reply, which the Cap'n translated to
his own satisfaction, and went away, casting the radiance of that
startling amiability over his shoulder as he departed. Colonel Ward
stared after the pudgy figure as long as it remained in sight,
muttering his boding thoughts.

It required daily visits for a week to make satisfactory impress on
the Colonel's mistrustful fears, but the Cap'n was patient. In the
end, Colonel Ward, having carefully viewed this astonishing
conversion from all points, accepted the amity as proof of the
guileless nature of a simple seaman, and on his own part reciprocated
wit