had been accepted. In time
ten bound copies of his novel, his allotment from the publishers,
brought him a thrill of indescribable pleasure. The next mail brought
papers with glowing reviews and letters of commendation and
congratulations. Next came a good-sized check, and the information
that his book was a "best seller."

The night that this information was received he went up to the top of
the hill that jutted over the harbor and listened to the song of the
waves. Two years in this land of liquid light--a land of burning days
and silent, sapphired nights, a land of palms and olives--two years of
quiet, dreamy bliss, an idle and unsubstantial time! How evanescent it
seemed, by the light of the days at home, when something had always
pressed him to action.

"Two years of drifting," he thought. "It is time I, too, raised anchor
and sailed home."

The next mail brought a letter that made his heart beat faster than it
had yet been able to do in this exotic, lazy land. It was a recall
from Barnabas.

"DEAR DAVE:

"Nothing but a lazy life in a foreign land would have drove a
man like you to write a book. The Jedge and M'ri are pleased,
but I know you are cut out for something different. I want you
to come home in time to run for legislature again. There's goin'
to be something doin'. It is time for another senator, and who
do you suppose is plugging for it, and opening hogsheads of
money? Wilksley. I want for you to come back and head him off.
If you've got one speck of your old spirit, and you care
anything about your state, you'll do it. I am still running
politics for this county at the old stand. Your book has started
folks to talking about you agen, so come home while the picking
is good. You've dreamt long enough. It is time to get up. Don't
write no more books till you git too old to work.

"Yours if you come,
"B. B."

The letter brought to David's eyes something that no one in this balmy
land had ever seen there. With the look of a fighter belted for battle
he went to the telegraph office and cabled Barnabas, "Coming."

CHAPTER III

On his return to Lafferton David was met at the train by the Judge,
M'ri, and Barnabas.

"Your trunks air goin' out to the farm, Dave, ain't they?" asked
Barnabas wistfully.

"Of course," replied David, with an emphasis that brought a look of