xpecting that that would help him out of his difficulty.

"Say, squire," he said; "I didn't mean to be so rude."

"No, no, of course not," cried Uncle Paul. "There, there; sit down
again. It was all a mistake. Perhaps we shall understand one another
better now."

"Well, I don't know," grunted the skipper. "Better go perhaps."

"No, no, man; I'm not offended. You thought I was a blackguardly
ruffian who wanted to trap you into commanding a slaving craft for me,
so that I could engage in that horrible trade of baying and selling my
fellow-creatures; and you spoke out like a man. Here, shake hands,
Captain Chubb. I honour you for your outspoken manly honesty."

"Mean it?" grunted the skipper, hesitating.

"Mean it, yes," said Uncle Paul, "and I hope this will be the beginning
of our becoming great friends."

"Humph!" grunted the captain, and extending his heavy hand he gave Uncle
Paul a shake with no nonsense about it, for though Rodd's uncle did not
wince, he told the boy afterwards that it was the most solid shake he
had ever had in his life.

Rodd fully endorsed it, as he knew directly after exactly what the
skipper's salute meant, for Captain Chubb, after releasing the uncle's
hand, extended what Rodd afterwards said was a paw, to the lad himself.

"Well, now then, Captain Chubb."

"Very sorry, sir, I'm sure. Thought I saw broken water and a shoal.
Hadn't I better go?"

"No, no, captain," cried Uncle Paul. "I am beginning to think you are
just the man I want."

"Ho!" said the skipper. "Mebbe. Let's see."

"Well," continued Uncle Paul, "I want a vessel, a schooner. Do you know
of a likely one that could be purchased and made ready at once for a
trip down the West Coast?"

Captain Chubb looked hard at the speaker, then at Rodd, with the effect
of making the boy feel as if he must laugh, for there was something so
thoroughly comical in the stolid face, that nothing but the dread of
hurting the visitor's feelings kept him from bursting into a roar,
especially as, after fixing him with his eyes, the skipper seemed to be
taking careful observations, looking up at the ceiling as if in search
of clouds, at the carpet for sunken rocks, and then, so to speak,
sweeping the offing by slowly gazing at the four walls in turn.

"Schooner," he said at last gruffly.

"Yes," said Uncle Paul; "a smart, fast-sailing schooner."

"Well-found," grunted the skipper.

"Of course, and with a good crew."

"_An