im."

"Perhaps," agreed Nat.

The harbor master and his colleagues filed back into the room. Nat
tried to gather from their looks what disposition they had made of his
case, but the men gave no indication, seeming to be as grave and
serious as when they had gone out.

"Hum," mumbled the harbor master, in his deep voice. "We have
considered your case, Nat Morton, and we wish to ask you a few
questions."

Thereupon, Nat was put through a brief examination in relation to
matters connected with piloting and the management of boats. The
harbor master and his colleagues asked him a lot of questions, some of
which Nat answered to his own satisfaction, at least. To others, more
technical, he replied as best he could.

Fortunately his life about the docks, and his instructions at the
hands of Mr. Weatherby, stood him in good stead. He showed a good
practical knowledge of piloting, though some of the questions puzzled
him, and his answers seemed to afford mirth to the harbor master and
his associates.

"Well," remarked the harbor master after a pause, "what you did, Nat,
may have been irregular--in fact it was irregular, and against the
rules--but, under the circumstances, we cannot blame you for it. You
are doing very well, and you know more, now, than many pilots who have
a license. Still, you are under the age. When you reach the proper
limit you will have to appear for an official examination. Until then
you can go on as you have been doing, only don't try to handle a boat
alone in a storm. Wait until you have had a little more experience.
Then you can come up for examination, and get a full license. This
case is laid over indefinitely."

"Does that mean I can go?" asked Nat.

"Yes, you can go," answered the harbor master with a smile. "And don't
worry. We'll pass you, as soon as you are of the proper age. I
congratulate you on your pluck," and then, to the surprise of his
colleagues (for the harbor master was a somewhat gruff sort of a man),
he leaned over and shook hands with Nat.

A little later Nat and Captain Turton were aboard the _Mermaid_. They
found Mr. Weatherby much better, and when the repairs were completed,
and the freight and passengers aboard, the ship steamed out of the
harbor to resume her voyage.

CHAPTER XXI

NAT INTERVENES

One of the first things Nat did, when he had a chance to talk to Mr.
Weatherby, was to repeat some of the questions that had been asked by
the board of pilots