ried Ruth off to their
bedroom to have it out with her there, leaving young Dalton to face the
captain.

"I congratulate you, my lad," said the captain, frankly extending his
hand. "Sit down."

Dalton as frankly shook the hand and thanked the captain, as he took a
seat beside him.

"I'm deeply grieved, Captain Bream, to see you so much reduced, yet
rejoiced to find that you are fairly convalescent."

"Humph! I wouldn't give much for the depth of either your grief or joy
on my account seein' that you've managed to get hooked on to an angel."

"Well, I confess," said the youth, with a laugh, "that the joy connected
with that fact pretty much overwhelms all other feelings at present."

"The admission does you credit boy, for she is an angel. I'm not usin'
figures o' speech. She's a real darlin', A1 at Lloyd's. True blue
through and through. And let me tell you, young fellow, that I know her
better than you do, for I saw her before you were bor--, no, that
couldn't well be, but I knew her father before you were born, and
herself ever since she saw the light."

"I'm delighted to have your good opinion of her, though, of course, it
cannot increase my estimation of her character. Nothing can do that!"

"Which means that _my_ opinion goes for nothing. Well, the conceit of
the rising generation is only equalled by--by that o' the one that went
before it. But, now, isn't it strange that you are the very man I want
to see?"

"It is indeed," replied Dalton with a slightly incredulous look.

"Yes, the very man. Look ye here. Have you got a note-book?"

"I have."

"Pull it out, then. I want you to draw out my will."

"Your will, Captain Bream!"

"My will," repeated the captain. "Last will an' testament."

"But I'm not lawyer enough to--"

"I know that, man! I only want you to sketch it out. Listen. I'm
going in a week or two to the North Sea in a fishing-smack. Well,
there's no sayin' what may happen there. I'm not infallible--or
invulnerable--or waterproof, though I _am_ an old salt. Now, you are
acquainted with all my money matters, so I want you to jot down who the
cash is to be divided among if I should go to the bottom; then, take the
sketch to my lawyer--you know where he lives--and tell him to draw it
out all ship-shape, an' bring it to me to sign. Now, are you ready?"

"But, my dear sir, this may take a long time, and the ladies will
probably return before we--"

"_You_ don't bother