art owner in a mine now, and he's comin' home to see me and to
straighten out some things he's interested in." It was the first time
in nearly twenty years that he had ever been able to speak of his son
with pride.

A ripple of pleasure went through the room. If the prodigal was
bringing some money with him and was not to be a drag on the captain,
that put a new aspect on the situation. In that case the father was to
be congratulated.

"Well, that's a comfort to you, captain," cried Uncle Isaac in a cheery
tone. "A good son is a good thing. I never had one, dead or alive, but
I'd 'a' loved him if I had had. I'm glad for you, Captain Nat, and I
know the men are." (Polhemus's age and long friendship gave him this
privilege. Then, of course, the occasion was not an official one.)

"Been at the mines, did ye say, captain?" remarked Green. Not that it
was of any interest to him; merely to show his appreciation of the
captain's confidence. This could best be done by prolonging the
conversation.

"Yes, up in the mountains of Brazil some'er's, I guess, though he don't
say," answered the captain in a tone that showed that the subject was
still open for discussion.

Mulligan now caught the friendly ball and tossed it back 'with:

"I knowed a feller once who was in Brazil--so he said. Purty hot down
there, ain't it, captain?"

"Yes; on the coast. I ain't never been back in the interior."

Tod kept silent. It was not his time to speak, nor would it be proper
for him, nor necessary. His chief knew his opinion and sympathies and
no word of his could add to their sincerity.

Archie was the only man in the room, except Uncle Isaac, who regarded
the announcement as personal to the captain. Boys without fathers and
fathers without boys had been topics which had occupied his mind ever
since he could remember. That this old man had found one of his own
whom he loved and whom he wanted to get his arms around, was an
inspiring thought to Archie.

"There's no one happier than I am, captain," he burst out
enthusiastically. "I've often heard of your son, and of his going away
and of your giving him up for dead. I'm mighty glad for you," and he
grasped his chief's hand and shook it heartily.

As the lad's fingers closed around the rough hand of the captain a
furtive look flashed from out Morgan's eyes. It was directed to
Parks--they were both Barnegat men--and was answered by that surfman
with a slow-falling wink. Tod saw it, and h