You see, when we
are going to run up a house, we all join together and lend a hand, which
makes it easy work for us. It would be impossible for one or two men--
or many more, indeed. I'll tell you what I'll do for you, though. If
the captain of your ship here will promise to bring me back again to
Tristan, I will go over there with you for a couple of days or so, to
see you comfortably fixed up, as you Americans say, at Inaccessible
Island, before you and your brother are left to yourselves."

"Agreed!" exclaimed Eric joyfully. "I will ask the skipper at once."

To dart across the deck to where Captain Brown was now standing by the
open hatchway, overseeing the provisions being passed down into the
ship's hold, was, for the sailor lad, but the work of a moment!

"Oh, Captain Brown,"--commenced Eric breathlessly, his excitement almost
stopping his speech for a second.

"Waall, what's all the muss about?" said the old skipper, turning round
and scanning the lad's eager face. "Do you an' your brother want to
back out o' the venture naow? I saw you talkin' to thet Tristaner you
met here with me in the spring."

"Back out of the project?" repeated Eric very indignantly. "Give up my
pet plan, when everything is turning more and more in favour of it,
captain? I should think not, indeed!"

"Then, what's the matter?" asked the skipper.

"I want you to grant me a favour," said Eric, hesitating a bit as the
other looked at him steadfastly, a half-smile, half-grin on his weather-
beaten countenance.

"Thought sunthin' wer up!" ejaculated the skipper. "Waall, what's this
durned favour o' your'n?" he added in his good-natured way. "Spit it
out, sonny, an' don't make sich a mealy mouth of it!"

"This Tristaner--young Glass, you recollect him, don't you, captain?"
said Eric, proceeding with his request--"says he'll come with us and
help to build our cabin for us at Inaccessible Island, and settle us--"

"Show you the ropes, in fact, hey?" interrupted the skipper.

"Yes," continued Eric. "He agrees to stop a day or two with us, till we
feel at home, so to speak, if you will undertake to bring him back again
and land him at Tristan before you go on to the Cape."

"Oh!" exclaimed the skipper, giving expression to a long, low whistle
from between his closed teeth. "Thet's the ticket, is it? Waall, I
guess I don't mind doin' it to oblige you an' your brother, though it'll
take me a main heap out o' my way coastin'