down the writing
materials from an upper shelf. "Now, fire away; I'm ready."

But the captain hesitated, and was at a loss how to begin. He
scratched his head in perplexity.

"Dang it all!" he muttered. "Oh, jist tell him that we have a little
sick girl here, who will die if she doesn't git to a specialist in New
York, and that I'd like fer him to help out with the expense."

"What are you talking about, dad?" Jimmy asked. "I can't write the
letter until you give me the name of the person you want it sent to."

"Oh, didn't I tell ye? Well, that's queer. It's fer my old master,
Benjamin Dodge, in the city. He's got the money, and he told me that
if I ever needed any help to go to him. I have never bothered him
before, and never intended to do so, but this is different. Whyn's
life's at stake, and that's reason enough. The scouts are to give all
the money they earned fer that prize, but it won't go very far. We
need a great deal more, and at once."

"And did the scouts give that money of their own free will?" Jimmy
asked. "Did you suggest it to them?"

"No. I never thought about it until Rod came over this mornin' and put
the notion into my head."

For some time Jimmy sat toying with the pen he was holding in his hand.

"Why don't ye write that letter?" his father demanded.

"So you say that the girl can't get better unless she goes to a
specialist?" his son enquired.

"It's what the doctors say; that's all I know about it. But git on
with that letter, will ye?"

"Look here, dad," and Jimmy laid aside the pen. "I'm going to the city
in the morning, and suppose I see old Dodge about the matter. It will
be much better than writing a letter. I can explain things which I
couldn't write."

"Maybe that would be the best way," the captain agreed. "But put it up
to him straight, Jimmy. He's a gruff cur at times, but he's got a big
heart."

"I'll attend to that, dad. Just leave it to me."

The captain was very restless the next day. He thought that the time
for the arrival of the evening boat would never come. Jimmy was to
return on her, and suppose Dodge was unwilling to assist! What would
he do? His eyes often turned toward the _Roaring Bess_ riding at
anchor before the house. Several times he stood in front of the door
and looked out over his few acres of land. What his thoughts were he
kept to himself, but the expression, of determination in his eyes told
of a man who would not easil