The Project Gutenberg EBook of Cap'n Eri, by Joseph Crosby Lincoln

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

Title: Cap'n Eri

Author: Joseph Crosby Lincoln

Release Date: May 30, 2006 [EBook #3240]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAP'N ERI ***

Produced by Donald Lainson

CAP'N ERI

By Joseph Crosby Lincoln

CONTENTS

I. A LAMB FOR THE SACRIFICE

II. THE TRAIN COMES IN

III. THE "COME-OUTERS'" MEETING

IV. A PICTURE SENT AND A CABLE TESTED

V. THE WOMAN FROM NANTUCKET

VI. THE SCHOOLHOUSE BELL RINGS

VII. CAPTAIN ERI FINDS A NURSE

VIII. HOUSEKEEPER AND BOOK AGENT

IX. ELSIE PRESTON

X. MATCHMAKING AND LIFE-SAVING

XI. HEROES AND A MYSTERY

XII. A LITTLE POLITICS

XIII. CAPTAIN JERRY MAKES A MESS OF IT

XIV. THE VOYAGE OF AN "ABLE SEAMAN"

XV. IN JOHN BAXTER'S ROOM

XVI. A BUSINESS CALL

XVII. THROUGH FIRE AND WATER

XVIII. THE SINS OF CAPTAIN JERRY

XIX. A "NO'THEASTER" BLOWS

XX. ERI GOES BACK ON A FRIEND

XXI. "DIME-SHOW BUS'NESS"

CAP'N ERI

CHAPTER I

A LAMB FOR THE SACRIFICE

"Perez," observed Captain Eri cheerfully, "I'm tryin' to average up with
the mistakes of Providence."

The Captain was seated by the open door of the dining room, in the
rocker with the patched cane seat. He was apparently very busy doing
something with a piece of fishline and a pair of long-legged rubber
boots. Captain Perez, swinging back and forth in the parlor rocker with
the patch-work cushion, was puffing deliberately at a wooden pipe, the
bowl of which was carved into the likeness of a very rakish damsel with
a sailor's cap set upon the side of her once flaxen head. In response
to his companion's remark he lazily turned his sunburned face toward the
cane-seated rocker and inquired:

"What on airth are you doin' with them boots?"

Captain Eri tied a knot with his fingers and teeth and then held the
boots out at arm's length.

"Why, Perez," he said, "I'm averagin' up, same as I told you. Providence
made me a two-legged critt