. I was a famished wayfarer and he took me in. There,
Daddy, don't puzzle your poor brain any longer. It is all right and
I'll tell you all about it when we get home. Now I am sure we should
be starting if we are to have any fishing at all. Shall we cast off,
Mr.--that is, Captain Paine?"

That fishing trip was not a huge success if judged solely by the size
of the catch. The weakfish were not hungry or we did not tempt them with
bait to their taste that day. We got a half dozen, of which I caught
three, Miss Colton two, and her father but one. His, however, was a big
one, much the biggest of the six, and he had a glorious time landing it.
He fished as he appeared to do everything else, with intense earnestness
and determination. He evidently considered the struggle a sort of
personal disagreement between the fish and himself and, as usual,
intended to have his way. He succeeded after a while, and announced that
he had not enjoyed anything as much since arriving in Denboro.

His daughter also seemed to be enjoying herself. She was quite as good a
fisher as her father, and, when the sport was over, and we reeled in
our lines preparatory to starting for home, rallied him not a little
at having been the least successful of the party. He took her teasing
good-naturedly.

"You think it is quite a feat to get the better of your old dad, don't
you, my lady," he observed.

"Of course I do. It is, isn't it?"

He chuckled. "Well, maybe you're right," he admitted. "You do it oftener
than any one else, that is certain. Paine, you might take lessons from
her, if you are still hoping to keep up your end in the little fight you
and I have on hand."

She turned to me and smiled. Her graceful head was silhouetted against
the red glow of the sunset and a loosened strand of her hair waved in
the light breeze.

"I think Mr. Paine does not need lessons from any one," she said. "He
seems to be holding his own very well."

"But he's frightened, all the same. Come, Paine, own up now. You know
you are frightened, don't you?"

"Not very," I answered, truthfully.

"So? Then you aren't as sensible as you ought to be. A wise man knows
when to be scared. Let's make a little bet on it. I'll bet you two to
one that I'll own that land of yours inside of six months."

I shook my head. "I never bet on certainties," I declared. "I should be
ashamed to collect my winnings."

This seemed to amuse them both, for they both laughed.

"Father,"