ut it," cried Rodd.

"Well," said the Count, "ever since we met I have given way, and taken
your advice, doctor, in all things; but we have come to a time now when
I think I have a right to assert myself. Captain Chubb thinks that he
will have finished in two days more. He is certain that he will have
all done, caulked, tarred, and the copper replaced, in three days; so I
have come to the conclusion that you people, who have been quite slaves
in the way of sharing my troubles, thoroughly deserve a holiday. So I
set you free--you too, Morny."

"Me, father!" cried the lad in astonishment.

"Yes; I am sure you would enjoy a trip with Rodd as much as he would
like you to go with him."

"Yes, that I should," cried Rodd; "but--"

"Yes," said Morny gravely; "but--you would not wish me to leave my
father like this. Thank you, my father. I could not go, and I will
stay."

"No, Morny; you will obey my wishes. You have your young life saddened
enough with disappointments, so that when there is an opportunity to
keep one away I call upon you to accompany young Harding here as his
companion, and I wish you both a very enjoyable trip."

"That's very nice of you--very nice indeed," cried the doctor; "but I
cannot sanction it. I think we should be doing very wrong if we let
those boys go alone."

"But they would not go alone. You would have full charge of your
nephew."

"Now, Des Saix!" snorted the doctor.

"Let me finish," said the Count good-humouredly; "and as a man in whom I
place full confidence I entrust you with the care of my son. Now,
doctor, please, no more excuses. I will not deprive you of the
pleasures a naturalist would enjoy in such an excursion. Your
preparations could be soon made; so send over for the Spaniard to-night
and tell him you will be ready to start at the turn of the tide
to-morrow, so that it may bear you up into these unknown regions--
unknown to us--and a pleasant trip to you!"

"No," said the doctor, "I shall certainly not think of trusting
ourselves to that man and his crew."

"There I agree with you," said the Count; "with a good crew of your own
trusted men."

"And if he could be spared," cried Rodd, "I should like for us to have
Joe Cross."

"Now, look here," cried Uncle Paul, "this is taking a weak man at his
weakest time. Really, Count, we ought not to go. Look at what your
position would be in case anything should happen."

"Nothing is likely to happen," said the