take the responsibility, then," cried Rob eagerly.

"Suppose I say `no'?"

Giovanni's countenance changed at every speech, being one moment
clouded, the next bright. And now as that word "No" rang out he clasped
his hands together and raised them with a gesture full of despair. Then
his eyes lit up again, for Rob said quickly,--

"Don't say it, then. He would be so horribly disappointed now."

"_Si_! Take Giovanni," said the skipper, and the boy gave him a
grateful glance.

"But suppose anything happens to him?"

The Italian captain could not grasp the meaning of this last speech, and
turned to his son, who rendered it into their own tongue.

"Oh," replied the captain in the same language, "it is fate. He must
take care of himself. Suppose I fall overboard, and am drowned, or the
fish eat me? Yes, he must take care."

"You would like him with us, then, Rob?" said Brazier.

"Yes, very much."

"That's enough, then. You shall come, my lad. Wait a moment; hear what
I have to say. You must be obedient and follow out my instructions."

"Yes; I'll do everything you tell me," cried the boy.

"And you will have to do as we do--live hard and work hard."

"I'm not afraid of work," said the boy, smiling.

"And now interpret this to your father. I will do everything I can to
protect you, and you shall be like one of us, but he must not expect me
to be answerable for any mishaps that may come to us out in the wilds."

Giovanni turned eagerly to his father, but the skipper waved his hand.

"Understand," he said, nodding his head. "I you trust. Take _il mio_
boy."

He held out his hand to Brazier, and shook his solemnly as if in sign
manual of the compact, and then repeated the performance with Rob, whose
hand he retained, and, taking his son's, placed them together.

"_Fratelli_! broders!" he said, smiling.

"Yes, I will be like a brother to you," cried Giovanni.

"All right," said Rob unpoetically; and then the skipper turned to
Shadrach, and grumbled out something in Italian.

"Toe be sure," growled the man in English. "'Course I will. You know
me, cap'en."

"_Si_!" replied the skipper laconically; and then, asking Rob to
accompany him, the Italian lad made for his little cabin to begin the
few preparations he had to make.

The result was that a canvas bag like a short bolster was handed down
into the boat, and then the boy followed with a light, useful-looking
rifle, belt and long keen sh