faster that
way."

The boys were overjoyed at recovering their fruit, and most of them
were in favor of cracking two or three of the great nuts, and eating
their contents in honor of the occasion, but the eldest boy dissuaded
them.

"The good Captain," he said, "has been very kind in endeavoring to
take us back to our school, and still intends to keep up the search
for dear old Apple Island. The least we can do for him is to give him
this fruit, which is all we have, and let him do what he pleases with
it. This is the only way in which we can show our gratitude to him."

The boys turned their backs on one another, and each of them gave his
eyes a little rub, but they all agreed to give the fruit to the
Captain.

When the good old man received his present, he was much affected. "I
will accept what you offer me," he said; "for if I did not, I know
your feelings would be wounded. But you must keep one of the nuts for
yourselves. And, more than that, if we do not find Apple Island in
the course of the coming year, I invite you all to spend Christmas
before last over again, with me at my son's house."

All that winter, the two ships sailed up and down, and here and
there, but never could they find Apple Island. When Christmas-time
came, old Baragat went around among the boys and the crew, and told
them it would be well not to say a word on the subject to the
Captain, for his feelings were very tender in regard to spending
Christmas away from his families, and the thing had never happened
before. So nobody made any allusion to the holidays, and they passed
over as if they had been ordinary days.

During the spring, and all through the summer, the two ships kept up
the unavailing search, but when the autumn began, Captain Covajos
said to old Baragat: "I am very sorry, but I feel that I can no
longer look for Apple Island. I must go back and spend Christmas
before last over again, with my dearest son; and if these poor boys
never return to their homes, I am sure they cannot say it was any
fault of mine."

"No, sir," said Baragat, "I think you have done all that could be
expected of you."

So the ships sailed to the city on the west side of the sea; and the
Captain was received with great joy by his son, and his
grandchildren. He went to the merchants, and told them how he had
lost all their money. He hoped they would be able to bear their
misfortune with fortitude, and begged, as he could do nothing else
for them,