lingness,' replied the other; `but then--the
doctor, you see--the fact is, Peterkin, the doctor being called away to
see a sick Indian, has entrusted me with a delicate piece of business--
rather a nasty piece of business, I may say--which I promised to do for
him. You must know that the Surgical Society of London has written to
him, begging, as a great favour, that he would, if possible, procure
them the skull of a native. After much trouble he has succeeded in
getting one, but is obliged to keep it a great secret, even from his
fellow-clerks, lest it should get wind; for if the Indians heard of it
they would be sure to kill him, and perhaps burn the fort too. Now I
suppose you are aware that it is necessary to boil an Indian's head in
order to get the flesh clean off the skull?'

"`Yes; I have heard something of that sort from the students at college,
who say that boiling brings flesh more easily away from the bone. But I
don't know much about it,' replied Peterkin.

"`Well,' continued the skipper, `the doctor, who is fond of experiments,
wishes to try whether _baking_ won't do better than _boiling_, and
ordered the oven to be heated for that purpose this morning; but being
called suddenly away, as I have said, he begged me to put the head into
it as soon as it was ready. I agreed, quite forgetting at the time that
I had to get this precious boat ready for sea this very afternoon. Now
the oven is prepared, and I dare not leave my work; indeed, I doubt
whether I shall have it quite ready and taut after all, and there's the
oven cooling; so, if you don't help me, I'm a lost man.'

"Having said this, the skipper looked as miserable as his jolly visage
would permit, and rubbed his nose.

"`Oh, I'll be happy to do it for you, although it is not an agreeable
job,' replied Butter.

"`That's right--that's friendly now!' exclaimed the skipper, as if
greatly relieved. `Give us your flipper, my lad;' and seizing
Peterkin's hand, he wrung it affectionately. `Now, here is the key of
the outhouse; do it as quickly as you can, and don't let any one see
you. It's in a good cause, you know, but the results might be terrible
if discovered.'

"So saying, the skipper fell to hammering the boat again with surprising
vigour till Butter was out of sight, and then resuming his coat,
returned to the house.

"An hour after this, Anderson went to take his loaves out of the oven;
but he had no sooner taken down the door than a r