al'late I could talk him into it. There's some butter on my tongue
when it's necessary."

"You'd have to promise not to lay a hand on him in anger. That's what I
promised his mother."

"All right, I promise it now. That's all right, Perez. You and me are
old shipmates, and bound to help each other out. Just trust him to me,
and don't ask too many questions. Is it a trade? Good! Shake."

They shook hands on it, and then Captain Eri went in to talk to the
unreconciled runaway. That young gentleman, fresh from his triumph over
his uncle, at first refused to have anything to do with the scheme. He
wasn't going to be a "cheap guy fisherman," he was going into the
Navy. The Captain did not attempt to urge him, neither did he preach or
patronize. He simply leaned back in the rocker and began spinning sailor
yarns. He told of all sorts of adventures in all climates, and with all
sorts of people. He had seen everything under the sun, apparently, and,
according to him, there was no life so free and void of all restraint
as that of an able seaman on a merchant ship, or, preferably, on a
fisherman; but one point he made clear, and that was that, unless the
applicant had had previous training, his lot was likely to be an unhappy
one.

"Of course," he said, as he rose to go, "it was my idea to sort of train
you up so's you could be ready when 'twas time to ship, but long's you
don't want to, why it's all off."

"I'll go with you, Cap!" said Josiah, whose eyes were shining.

"Good! That's the talk! You might as well sign articles right away. Wait
till I git 'em ready."

He brought pen, ink, and paper, and proceeded to indite a formidable
document to the effect that "Josiah Bartlett, able seaman," was to ship
aboard the catboat Mary Ellen for a term of two months. Wages, five
dollars a month.

"You see," he said, "I've put you down as able seaman 'cause that's what
you'll be when I git through with you. Now sign."

So Josiah signed, and then Captain Eri affixed his own signature with a
flourish.

"There!" exclaimed the Captain, bringing his big palm down on the back
of the "able seaman" with a thump that brought water into the eyes of
that proud youth, "You're my man, shipmate. We sail to-morrer mornin' at
four, rain or shine. I'll call you at quarter of. Be ready."

"You bet, old man!" said Josiah.

Captain Perez met his friend as they came out of the parlor.

"Now, Eri," he whispered, "be easy as you can with him, won