d it did," he answered. "Of course, you have every right to
settle here if you like; but I and my brother decline having any
association with you."

"Oh, jist as you like, mister," replied the American, now showing
himself in his true colours, having evidently nourished a spite against
the two brothers on account of Captain Brown's friendship for them.
"I'm durned if I kinder kear now to hang out along with you, as I sed at
first; I'd rayther a durned sight stick to these good chaps haar, as hev
more friendly feelins than a pair o' blessed foreign coons that don't
know how to treat a free-born American citizen like a man! I guess,
though, I'll spile your sealing for you, if I hev any influence with the
islanders."

"You are welcome to do your worst," said Fritz; and then, as young Glass
was not amongst the Tristaners--who now seemed, either from the deck
hand's threat or on account of some other reason, to look upon them in
rather a hostile manner--he and Eric withdrew from the party. Retiring
at once to their boat, they returned to their own little settlement in
the eastern bay, with the resolve of not coming out after the seals
again until after the islanders had left the coast, so as not to risk
any further altercation with them.

"It's a great nuisance, though," grumbled Eric, who was especially
annoyed by the fact of their going back to the hut with an empty boat
instead of the full cargo | he expected, similar to their first day's
experience of sealing. "I should like to pay out that mean Yankee for
his spite. He's not like a true sailor, for he wasn't worth his salt
aboard the _Pilot's Bride_; and I've heard the skipper say that he only
took him out of good nature and nothing else!"

"Yes, I know he only allowed him to come in order to save him from ruin
at home," Fritz said. "But, he might just as well have left him at
Providence, for all the good the voyage has done him!"

"Well, he has spoilt our sealing, as he said he would," observed Eric
after a bit, when they were rounding the western promontory of their own
little bay, and their cottage home was just in sight.

"Only to-day, or, at the worst, for but a short time longer," replied
Fritz. "The islanders will not stay for any period after they've filled
their boat; and, of course, he will return with them to Tristan. He's
too lazy to stop here and shift for himself, although he would have been
glad to sponge upon us."

"Joy go with him when h