d try to like me a little, I think we should
get on better; and if dried figs would do, we might try those, you
know."

Here he turned to the doctor, with a face of such clear brightness that
the good man choked, and coughed, and finally went and looked out of the
window, wondering whether he was laughing or crying.

Then John came forward, and held out both hands to the old man with an
appealing gesture.

"Will you try to like me a little?" he said; and for the first time his
voice quivered.

"For now my only friend is going away, and I am sending him, and I shall
never see him again."

Mr. Endymion Scraper was a man of few ideas; and only one was in his
mind at this moment. Gathering himself up in the bed, he pushed the boy
away from him with all his feeble strength.

"Go 'way!" he said. "Go 'way, I tell ye. If that man there will take ye,
he's welcome to ye, I guess. If he's fool enough to take ye in exchange
for property, saying the property was his, which I aint fool enough to
do without a lawyer--he's welcome to ye. I say, he's welcome. I don't
want no brats round here. I took ye out of charity, and I've had enough
of ye. Go 'long, I say, with that wuthless feller, if he is my sister's
son. I want to be rid of the hull lot and passel of ye!"

His voice rose to a scream, and the veins on his narrow forehead stood
out like cords. The doctor motioned to the Spaniard; and the latter,
without another word, took the child up in his arms as he had done once
before, swung him over his shoulder, and left the room.

CHAPTER XI.

SAILING.

"Rento!"

"Ay, ay, sir!"

"Franci!"

"Senor!"

"Jack and Jim!"

The monkeys for answer leaped on their master's shoulder, and chattered,
and peered round into his face.

"The company of this schooner, attention! Behold Colorado, who comes to
be my son! He sails with us, he receives kindness from you all, he is in
his home. Instruction you will give him in ways of the sea, and he
becomes in all things your brother. Am I understood?"

The different members of the crew received this intelligence each in his
own way. Rento advanced, and shaking John cordially by the hand, assured
him with honest warmth that he was proper glad to see him, and that he
hoped they should be good friends.

Franci smiled like an angel, and the moment the Skipper's back was
turned, made frightful grimaces at the boy, and threatened his life. But
John was too happy to be afraid of Fra