ead of captain?"

"Because," replied the other bitterly, "it was the only berth they would
give me after I lost my ship, and I had to take it or beg."

"But I thought you went down with the 'Lavinia'?"

"So I thought you did, but it seems both of us were mistaken. All but
you got off in two of the boats, and ours was picked up the next day by a
liner bound for New York. But how, in the name of all that is
wonderful-- Hold on, though. Let us go up to my room, where we can talk
comfortably."

As a result of this happy meeting, Cabot's voyage was made very pleasant
after all. Much as he had to tell and to hear, he also found time to
write out a full report on the Bell Island mine, and also a series of
notes concerning the ore specimens that he was carrying to New York.

At length the great city was reached, the "Amazon" was made fast to her
Brooklyn pier, and Cabot went to bid the second mate good-bye. "Hold on
a bit," said the latter, "and run up to the house with me. You can't go
without seeing Nelly and the baby."

"Nice calling rig I've got on, haven't I?" laughed Cabot. "Why, it would
scare 'em stiff. So not to-day, thank you; but I'll come to-morrow."

The carriage that Cabot engaged to carry him across to the city cost him
his last cent of money, but he knew it was well worth it when, still in
furs and with his snowshoes still strapped to his back, he entered the
Gotham building. Such a sensation did he create that he would have been
mobbed in another minute had he not dodged into an elevator and said:

"President's room, please."

He so petrified Mr. Hepburn's clerks and office boys by his remarkable
appearance that they neglected to check his progress, and allowed him to
walk unchallenged into the sacred private office. Its sole occupant was
writing, and did not notice the entrance until Cabot, laying a folded
paper on his desk, said:

"Here is that Bell Island report, Mr. Hepburn."

The startled man sprang to his feet with a face as pale as though he had
seen a ghost, and for a few moments stared in speechless amazement at the
fur-clad intruder. Then the light of recognition flashed into his eyes,
and holding out a cordial hand he said:

"My dear boy, how you frightened me! Where on earth did you come from?"

"From the steerage of the steamer 'Amazon,'" replied Cabot, stiffly,
ignoring his guardian's proffered hand. "I only dropped in to hand you
that Bell Island report, and to say tha