ay?" and he
joined the laugh that the children raised at his own expense,--enjoying
it as much as they did.

"That's a trick of William's, I'll be bound," said he; "but no matter,
I'll forgive you; and I'm right glad you've come, too, for it's precious
hot, and I'm tired hoeing up the weeds; so now, let us get out of the
sun, into the crow's nest."

"The crow's nest!" cried William. "What's that?"

"Why, the arbor, to be sure," said the Captain. "Don't you like the
name?"

"Of course I do," answered William. "It's such a cunning name."

It was but a few steps to the "crow's nest," and the happy party once
seated, the Captain was ready in an instant to pick up the thread where
he had broken it short off when they had parted in the golden evening of
the day before, and then to spin on the yarn.

"And now, my lively trickster and genius of the quill," said he to
William, "how is it about writing down the story? What does your father
say?"

"O," answered William, "I've written down almost every word of what you
said, and papa has examined it, and says he likes it. There it is";--and
he pulled a roll of paper from his pocket and handed it to the Captain.

The old man took it from William's hand, looking all the while much
gratified; and after pulling out a pair of curious-looking,
old-fashioned spectacles from a curious-looking, old-fashioned
red-morocco case, which was much the worse for wear, he fixed them on
his nose very carefully, and then, after unfolding the sheets of paper,
he glanced knowingly over them.

"That's good," said he; "that's ship-shape, and as it ought to be. Why,
lad, you're a regular genius, and sure to turn out a second Scott, or
Cooper, or some such writing chap."

"I am glad you like it, Captain Hardy," said William, pleased that he
had pleased his friend.

"Like it!" exclaimed the Captain. "Like it!! that's just _what_ I do;
and now, since I'm to be made famous in this way, I'll be more careful
with my speech. And no bad spelling either," ran on the Captain, while
he kept turning back the leaves, "as there would have been if you had
put it down just as I spoke it. But never mind that now; take back the
papers, lad, and keep them safe; we'll go on now, if we can only find
where the yarn was broken yesterday. Do any of you remember?"

"I do," said William, laughing. "You had just got out into the great
ocean, and were frightened half to death."

"O yes, that's it," went on the Captai