r from the
time of his leaving home until his arrival at Rhode Island, when, the
events of the past memorable year being of course stale news, they had
no chance of being communicated to him.

"And now," said Fritz, when he had made an end of his confidences in
return for his brother's story, "I want to know Captain Brown, and thank
him for all his kindness to you, Eric."

As Fritz said this, the broad-shouldered, jolly, seafaring man Eric had
pointed out--who was still talking to Fritz's acquaintance of the
steamboat, close to the divan and within sound of the brothers' voices--
hearing his name spoken, looked towards Fritz, who at once raised his
hat politely.

"Sarvint, sir," said he, coming forward and stretching out an open hand
about the size of a small-sized ham.

"You're the brother, I reckon from the likeness, of this young shaver I
picked up off the Cape, hey? My name's Brown, Cap'en Brown, sir, of the
_Pilot's Bride_, the smartest whaling craft as ever sailed out o'
Providence, I guess. Glad to know you, mister!"

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

AN INVITATION.

"Yes, I'm Eric's brother," said Fritz, grasping the huge paw of the
other, and shaking hands cordially,--"Fritz Dort, at your service. I'm
only too glad to have the pleasure of personally thanking you, on my own
and my mother's behalf, for your bravery in saving my poor brother here
from a watery grave, as well as for all your kindness to him afterwards!
He has told me about you, captain, and how you rescued him at sea,
besides treating him so very handsomely afterwards."

"Avast there!" roared out the Yankee skipper in a voice which was as
loud as if he were hailing the maintop from his own quarter-deck, albeit
it had a genial, cheery tone and there was a good-natured expression on
his jolly, weather-beaten face. "Stow all thet fine lingo, my hearty!
I only did for the b'y, mister, no more'n any other sailor would hev
done fur a shepmate in distress; though, I reckon I wer powerful glad I
overhauled thet there jolly-boat in time to save him, afore starvation
an' the sun hed done their work on him. I opine another day's exposure
would hev settled the b'y's hash; yes, sir, I du!"

"I've no doubt of that," said Fritz kindly. "From what he says, you
must have picked him up just in the nick of time."

"Yes, sirree, you bet on thet," responded the skipper. "Six hours more
driftin' about in thet boat, with the sun a-broilin' his brain-box an'
his w