, didn't you?"

"Ho, ho, that's it," the captain roared. "Suppose I did say that,
what's wrong about it?"

"Nothing, sir, nothing, only----"

"Only what?"

"That you wouldn't care for us to gather drift-logs, and sell them."

"Did I ever say anything about you?" the captain demanded.

"No, sir. But we thought----"

"Oh, so yez thought, eh? Well, then stop sich thinking and git to
work. It's beneath my dignity to be pokin' around after logs, because
I'm a sea-captain. But that has nothin' to do with you. It's beneath
my dignity to go bare-footed, but it's all right fer you. It's beneath
my dignity to go to school, but not fer you, see?"

"And you're quite willing to let us collect the logs?" Rod enquired.
He was all alert now and excited, as were also the rest of the scouts.

"Sure. Go ahead, and I'll keep an eye over yez."

"And may we have the tender?"

"Certainly. Yez couldn't do much without that. But be very careful,
and don't git a duckin'. I don't want any accidents. Yer parents look
to me to take care of yez, and I don't want to have any bad news to
carry to yer homes."

Thus it came about that the boys began to gather logs that very
afternoon. The captain sat upon the shore watching and giving advice.
Four of the scouts manned the tender. Two rowed, while Rod and Phil
herded the logs together, which were then towed to the little cove and
fastened to the shore. The rest of the boys rolled the stranded logs
into the water, and then by means of poles floated them also into the
cove. It was very exciting work, and the time came all too soon for
them to go home. But before they left they counted how many they had,
and found that there were one hundred and forty-five safely rounded up.
This was most encouraging, and their hearts were filled with joy at the
success of their undertaking.

The captain had watched the boys with great interest. He was proud of
the speedy and skilful manner in which they had performed the work. He
knew that if he had assisted there would now be many more logs in the
cove. But he could not afford to lose his dignity, oh, no, and he
chuckled as he sat there for a few minutes after the scouts had gone
home.

That evening when supper was over, the captain started out alone in the
tender. He told his wife that it might be late before he got home, and
for her not to worry. He knew where many logs were lying in coves and
creeks unknown to the scouts. Hour a