o the air, and hollerin' after us."

"Let's whoa here and wait for 'em to show in sight," advised Hiram,
eagerly. "It will be worth lookin' at."

"Hain't no need of slackin' sail," snorted the skipper. "It's about
like bein' anchored, tryin' to ratch this old tin skimmer away from
anywhere. You needn't worry any about our droppin' that island out
of sight right away."

"For a man that's just got even with Colonel Gideon Ward to the tune
of fifteen thousand dollars, and with the check in your pocket, you
don't seem to be enjoyin' the comforts of religion quite as much as
a man ought to," remonstrated Hiram.

"It's wadin' a puddle navigatin' this way," complained the Cap'n,
his eyes on the penning shores of the reach; "and it makes me homesick
when I think of my old four-sticker pilin' white water to her
bowsprit's scroll and chewin' foam with her jumper-guys. Deep water,
Hiram! Deep water, with a wind and four sticks, and I'd show ye!"

"There's something the matter with a man that can't get fun out of
anything except a three-ring circus," said his friend, severely.
"I'm contented with one elephant these days. It's all the
responsibility I want." His eyes dwelt fondly on the placid Imogene,
couchant amidships. Then he lighted a cigar, using his plug hat for
a wind-break, and resumed his labors with the pencil.

"What be ye writin'--a novel or only a pome?" inquired Cap'n Sproul
at last.

"Log," replied the unruffled Hiram. "This is the first sea trip I
ever made, and whilst I don't know how to reeve the bowsprit or clew
up the for'rad hatch, I know that a cruise without a log is like
circus-lemonade without a hunk of glass to clink in the mix bowl.
Got it up to date! Listen!"

He began to read, displaying much pride in his composition:

"September the fifteen. Got word that Cap'n Aaron Sproul had been
cheated out of wife's interest in timber lands by his brother-in-law,
Colonel Gideon Ward."

"What in Josephus's name has that got to do with this trip?" demanded
the Cap'n, with rising fire, at this blunt reference to his
humiliation.

"If it wa'n't for that we wouldn't be on this trip," replied Hiram,
with serene confidence in his own judgment.

"Well, I don't want that set down."

"You can keep a log of your own, and needn't set it down." Hiram's
tone was final, and he went on reading:

"Same date. Discovered Eleazar Bodge and his divinin'-rod. Bought
option on Bodge and his secret of Cap'n Kidd's buri