s head, his
cheeks flushing hotly.

His father gave him a searching look, took his hand, and led him into the
parlor.

"Don't be afraid of your father, Max," he said kindly, "why should you?"

"Because I've been a bad boy, sir, deserving of a flogging, and expect you
to give it to me," Max burst out desperately.

"Tell me all about it, my son," the captain said in a moved tone, "and
tell it here," seating himself and drawing the boy to his knee. "Perhaps
it will be easier."

"Oh, yes, papa, because it makes me know you love me even if I am bad; but
it makes me more ashamed and sorry for having disobeyed you," sobbed Max,
no longer able to refrain from tears as he felt the affectionate clasp of
his father's enfolding arm.

"Then it has a right effect. My boy, I think if you knew how much I love
you, you would never disobey. It will be a sore trial to me, as well as to
you, if I find it my duty to inflict any severe punishment upon you. But
let me hear your story."

Max told it in broken accents, for he was full of remorse for having
behaved so ill to so kind a parent.

When he had finished there was a moment of silence. It was the captain who
broke it.

"My boy," he said, with emotion, "it was a really wonderful escape, and we
must thank God for it. If you had been drowned, Max, do you know that it
would have gone near to break your father's heart? To lose my first-born,
my only son, and in the very act of disobedience--oh, how terrible!"

"Papa, I didn't, I really didn't think about its being disobedience when I
got into the boat, because it didn't seem dangerous till we were fairly
out among the waves."

"Do you think I ought to excuse you on that account?"

"No, sir; you've reproved me so often for not thinking, and for not being
careful to obey your orders; and I know I deserve a flogging. But, O papa,
please don't let Mamma Vi know about it, or anybody else. Can't you take
me upstairs here when they are all in the other house?"

"I shall not use corporal punishment this time, Max," the captain said, in
a moved tone. Dressing the boy closer to his side, "I shall try free
forgiveness, for I think you are truly sorry. And then you have made so
frank and full a confession of wrong-doing, that I might perhaps never
have discovered in any other way."

"O papa, how good you are to me! I don't think I can ever be so mean and
ungrateful as to disobey you again," exclaimed Max, feelingly. "But I
don't deserv