if you'll set me on the beach I'll come
aboard with the others."

Curious eyes followed him as he climbed the bluff with his sweater and
plunged into the woods. At six he rowed out with the rest of the
Spurlingites, Filippo included. The dinner to which they sat down was
one they remembered for the rest of the season. Pike had not overpraised
his French chef. Everybody had a good time, and at the close of the meal
a toast was drunk--in spring water--to the continued success of Spurling
& Company. The boys went ashore early.

No trawling was done the next morning, as it was the regular day for the
trip to Matinicus. The _Barracouta_ started at nine o'clock. At about
the same time the yacht catted her anchor, fired a farewell gun, and
proceeded eastward, her passengers first lining up and giving three
cheers for their guests of the night before, and receiving a similar
salute in return.

"Perce," said Jim as the sloop rose and sank on the swells on her way
over to Seal Island, "if you won't think me impertinent, I'd like to ask
you a question."

"Fire ahead!"

"You can tell me or not, just as you please, but I've been wondering
since last night whether, right down at the bottom of your heart, you'd
rather be with your friends on the yacht or with us on the island."

"That's an easy one, Jim," replied Percy. "And the best answer I can
make is the fact I'm on the boat with you this minute. I had an
invitation to go with them, and I declined it. Things look different to
me from what they did two months ago."

At Matinicus Percy found a letter from his father, answering his epistle
of a few weeks before.

DEAR PERCY [it ran],--Glad to hear you're on the job. Keep it up.

Percy countered that night as follows:

DEAR DAD,--I'm still sticking.

XVI

A LOST ALUMNUS

Throppy stepped out of the fish-house at the close of a breezy afternoon
and started for the camp to wash up. The morning's catch had been split
and salted; it just filled a hogshead. He glanced seaward at the
white-capped squalls chasing one another over the broad blue surface.
Three steps from the building he halted in surprise.

"Hulloo! Who's that?"

Round the eastern point came a small sloop. Evidently she had met with
disaster, for the end of her boom was broken and dragging and her
mainsail hung loosely. It was easily apparent that she had made a safe
harbor none too early.

Attracted by Throppy's exclamation, the other bo