the
wrecked verandah, and two or three of the sailors appeared at the long
low windows belonging to one of the principal rooms.

"Oh, here y'are, Mr Poole, sir!" cried the carpenter, waving his navy
straw hat and giving it two or three vicious sweeps at the flies. "Just
the very gent as I wanted to see. How are yer, Mr Burnett, sir? Warm,
aren't it? Don't you wish you was a chips, sir?" he added
sarcastically, as Fitz gave him a friendly nod.

"A chips? A carpenter, Winks?" said Fitz. "No; why should I?"

"Of course not, sir. Because if you was you would be every now and then
having some nice little job chucked at your head by the skipper."

"Why, of course," cried Poole. "What are you on board the schooner
for?"

"Oh, nothing at all, sir--only to stop leaks and recaulk, cut sticks out
of the woods to make new spars and yards, build a new boat now and then,
or a yard or two of bulwark or a new keel. Just a few little trifles of
that sort. It's just like so much play. Here's the very last of them.
Nice little job ashore by way of a change. Skipper's fresh idea. He
didn't say so, but seems to me as if he means to retire from business,
and this 'ere's going to be his country house."

"And a very nice place too," said Fitz, laughing. "It only wants doing
up."

"That's right, sir," cried the carpenter; "only just wants doing up, and
a bit of paint, and then all you'd have to do would be to order a
'technicum van or two of new furniture out of Totney Court Road, or
elsewhere. And an other nice little job for me to lay down the carpets
and hang the picturs, and it would be just lovely."

"Well, you seem in a nice temper, Chips," said Poole.

"Temper, Mr Poole! Why, I feel as soft and gentle as a baby. I arn't
got nothing to grumble at."

"And if you had you are the very last person in the world to say a word;
eh, Chips?"

"Hear that, Mr Burnett, sir? That's Mr Poole, that is! He's known me
two years and a narf, which means ever since he come on his first
voyage, when I teached him how to handle an adze without cutting off his
pretty little toes. If ever I wanted my character, Mr Burnett, sir, I
should refer captains and other such to Mr Poole Reed, as knows me from
the top of my head down to the parts I put lowest in my shoes."

"Look here, Chips, I want you to get to work. Whatever is the matter
now?"

"Oh, nothing at all, sir; nothing at all! Carn't you see how I am
smiling all over my