sie and the kids?" asked Jack,
though he felt positive as to what the answer would be before he spoke.

"He can have half of my duck!" announced Herb.

"And the whole of mine," echoed Josh.

"That settles it," laughed Jack. "So, George Washington Thomas, draw
right up to the fire and begin operations. A starving man can be
excused for doing lots of things that in a fellow with a full stomach
might appear to be a bad go. We'll forgive you this time; and hope
that when you get to Baltimore, you'll show Susie how you can work for
a woman who stands by her man like she has."

"I'se gwine tuh, boss; I'se got mah mind made up on dat, I tells yuh,"
declared the fugitive, with an air of determination that Jack liked to
see.

And as his hunger was such a real thing, they forced him to begin to
eat without further delay. Having dressed themselves, for the dawn was
now coming on, they started operations looking toward breakfast,
wishing to give the poor fellow a treat in the way of some hot coffee
and a rasher of bacon.

Fancy the amazement of Nick, as he sat up and rubbed his eyes, on
discovering an unknown negro, seated on a log, with a tin plate on his
knees, and devouring one of the ducks that had been placed in the
primitive oven the night before.

"W-w-what's all this mean? Who's your friend, and whose duck is he
making 'way with, fellows? I hope now you haven't let me sleep on,
just to play a trick on me and leave a rack of bones on my dish. Did
he drop down out of the sky, or have you engaged a pilot for the
treacherous waters of the lower Chincoteague Bay?" was the way he broke
out, as he discovered his chums grinning.

When he heard the story, Nick hardly knew whether to be provoked, or
take it as a joke, that he had been allowed to sleep through it all.

"But I ain't going to be outdone by any of you," he said,
magnanimously; "and if George Washington can get away with another
whole duck, let him tackle mine!"

CHAPTER X.

NICK IN SEARCH OF A MERMAID.

"Good boy, Nick!" cried George, who knew what a great sacrifice the fat
boy had in mind, when he offered to give up his share to the hungry
stranger.

"But there's no need of it," declared Josh. "You know I don't have any
appetite in the morning, so he's eating my duck."

"And as for me," piped up Herb, "I'm satisfied with half a bird.
Besides, somehow, duck for breakfast seems rather strong. I'm used to
something light--a rasher of bacon