exact value of three hundred and
sixty-five clay pipes. From this he deducted a fourth for breakage that
would have certainly occurred in the old system of laying the pipes down
every night, and which, therefore, he felt, in a confused sort of way,
ought not to be charged in the estimates of a new system. Then he added
a small sum to the result for probable extra breakages, such as had
occurred that night, and found that the total was not too high a price
for a man in his circumstances to pay for the blessing he wished to
obtain.

From that night forward he deliberately dropped his pipe every night
over the side of his hammock before going to sleep.

The captain, in commenting on this subject, was wont to observe that
everything in life, no matter how small, afforded matter of thought to
philosophical men. He had himself found a pleasing subject of study
each morning in the fact that some of the pipes survived the fall of the
previous night. This led him to consider the nature of clay pipes in
general, and to test them in various ways. It is true he did not say
that anything of importance resulted from his peculiar studies, but he
argued that a true philosopher looks for facts, and leaves results
alone. One discovery he undoubtedly did make, which was, that the pipes
obtained from a certain maker in the town _invariably_ broke, while
those obtained from another maker broke only occasionally. Hence he
came to the conclusion that one maker was an honest man, the other a
doubtful character, and wisely bestowed his custom in accordance with
that opinion.

About one minute after the falling of the pipe Ruby Brand fell asleep,
and about two minutes after that Captain Ogilvy began to snore, both of
which conditions were maintained respectively and uninterruptedly until
the birds began to whistle and the sun began to shine.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

A MEETING WITH OLD FRIENDS, AND AN EXCURSION.

Next morning the captain and his nephew "bore down", as the former
expressed it, on the workyard, and Ruby was readily accepted, his good
qualities having already been well tested at the Bell Rock.

"Now, boy, we'll go and see about the little preventive craft," said the
captain on quitting the office.

"But first," said Ruby, "let me go and tell my old comrade Dove that I
am to be with him again."

There was no need to enquire the way to the forge, the sound of the
anvil being distinctly heard above all the other sound