best thing I ever heard, ha,
ha, ha!"

"But some of the neighbours think it was sheer badness which made him
do it," Mrs. Royal replied.

"I know they do, confound their skins!" the captain roared, springing
to his feet in his excitement. "Haven't I heard it on all sides? They
twist every blessed thing he does into badness, and then account fer it
all by sayin' that he is a pauper. But, by jinks! there isn't an ounce
of badness about that boy. I've taken an interest in him simply
because--well, mebbe I'm a cranky cuss--and when I see people down on a
lad, I like to take his part. And look here, parson, I'm givin'
warnin'."

"What warning?" questioned the clergyman, shrinking back from the huge
fist which was suddenly thrust toward his face.

"Warnin' to you, parson, not to bury any one I knock out who interferes
with that lad of yours. It'll be sich a clear case of suicide that ye
won't dare to read the Burial Service over him. Everybody knows now
that I've taken that boy under my care, and if any one runs aginst my
fists it won't be an accident, but a clear case of self-destruction,
and it won't be necessary to hold an inquest."

Both Mr. and Mrs. Royal smiled at the captain's quaint expression of
loyalty to Rodney.

"I trust there'll be no more trouble," the clergyman replied. "Come,
fill up your pipe again. My city friend would be delighted to know
that Rodney's able champion enjoyed the tobacco he sent."

"Well, I don't care if I do," and the captain knocked the cold ashes
out of his pipe. "I'll fill up, and then git home. But there is one
thing I want to ask ye, and that's what brought me over here to-night.
Me and Betsey are pretty lonely at times. We never see a child around
the house, and we'd both consider it a special favour if ye'd let yer
boy come to see us once in awhile."

"Why, certainly," the parson replied. "I give my consent, and I feel
sure that you will, won't you?" and he turned to his wife.

"Yes, captain, I am quite willing for Rodney to go, and it is very
thoughtful of you to want him. I hope that he will behave himself."

"No fear of that," the captain eagerly returned. "I've got some fine
apples jist waitin' fer him, and several other things to surprise him
when he comes. So, good-night, I must be gittin' along."

CHAPTER VII

CHUMS

It was a beautiful Saturday morning, and Captain Josh was busy in his
little work-shop at the side of his house. He was in