self for the present!" said Saltash. "And don't get
up to mischief! There's a strict captain in command of this boat, so
you'd better mind how you go."

The boy looked up at him with eyes of twinkling comprehension. He had
plainly forgotten the despair that had so nearly overwhelmed him.

"Oh, I'll be very good, sir," he promised. "I won't get you into trouble
anyhow, sir."

"You--imp!" said Saltash, pulling his ear. "Think I'll put up with your
impudence, do you? You'll play that game once too often if you're not
careful."

Toby hastened to adjust his features to a becoming expression of gravity.
"I won't, sir. No, I won't. I'll be a good servant to you--the best
you've ever had. I'll never forget your goodness to me, and I'll pay back
somehow--that I will, sir."

His boyish voice suddenly throbbed with emotion, and he stopped. Again
for a moment he had the forlorn look of a small animal astray from its
own.

Saltash patted his shoulder kindly. "All right. That'll do. Don't be
tragic about it! Come along to your burrow and have a good square sleep!"

He led him away without further words, and Toby went, gratefully and
submissively.

A few minutes later Saltash came back with a smile on his ugly face,
half-quizzical, and half-compassionate.

"Rum little devil!" he commented again as he began to undress. "So the
gods had a gift for me after all! Wonder what I shall do with it!"

And then abruptly the smile became a mocking grimace that banished all
the kindliness from his face. He snapped his fingers and laughed as he
had laughed a little earlier when his cigarette had fallen into the water
with a sound like the hiss of a serpent.

"I--wonder!" he said again.

CHAPTER IV

TOBY

It was contrary to Captain Larpent's habit to show surprise at any time,
whatever the caprices of his patron, but he did look at Saltash somewhat
harder than usual when the latter informed him in his breezy fashion of
the unexpected addition to the yacht's company. He also frowned a little
and smoothed his beard as though momentarily puzzled.

"You won't want to be bothered with him," he said after brief reflection.
"Better let him sleep in the forecastle."

"Not for the present," said Saltash. "I am going to train him, and I'll
keep him under my own eye. The little beggar has had a pretty rough time
of it to judge by appearances. I've a fancy for looking after him
myself."

"What are you going to make of him?" asked