sn't any use trying to be a philosopher," said Jeems frankly,
"when you are traveling with such a hair-brained gang as you fellows.
A philosopher has to have time to think, and things keep happening so
fast in your company, that you don't get time to breathe. If it isn't
the mules running away it is Mosquito, and so it goes."

"Cheer up, Jeems," said Jo. "Just wait until we begin to cruise around
the world on our yacht, then you will get lots of time to
philosophize."

"Don't believe it," replied Jeems skeptically. "If it isn't pirates it
will be sharks, and if it isn't them it will be octopuses."

"In your case it is more likely to be the _mal de mer_," put in Jim
with his easy command of French. I believe he had one other phrase
that on occasion he could use.

"I suppose that they say _de mer_ because they feel like demurring,"
said Jo glibly.

"_Sacre bleu_, Jo!" cried Jim, using his other phrase. "Don't be so
smart."

"Can't help it," replied Jo.

"There will be a sudden and mysterious disappearance if you don't,"
said Jim darkly. By this time they had climbed into clear view of
Jeems' cabin.

"Somebody has thrown a rock at your castle and caved the roof in,
Jeems," declared Tom.

"Lucky I wasn't home," replied Jeems philosophically.

"It does look like an ancient ruin," said Jim, as they finally reached
the little shelf on which the cabin was built.

The passing years had evidently done their worst, a large boulder had
come down from the mountain above and crashed the roof in. The rudely
built chimney had been partially destroyed, and rats and squirrels
were making themselves at home. Jeems stood looking sadly at his
former cabin, for Jeems had a strain of sentiment in him and he had
spent three interesting and quite happy years at this spot.

"It's kind of like Rip Van Winkle returning home after his long
absence, isn't it?" inquired Jo.

"Only I don't see my faithful dog," replied the shepherd, waking from
his reverie.

"You must have built here for the view, Jeems," remarked Jim.

"I used to sit out here on the shelf many a summer evening," said
Jeems, "and look off towards the east till it got dark. I suspect
that's what helped to make me kind of dreamy; those years."

"Shouldn't wonder," said Jim.

It was a wonderful view, and it held the boys for a minute, accustomed
though they were to unusual scenes. There was a vastness and freedom
about it that would be hard to equal. Range after ra