an
invitation he quickly accepted, for he was fond of hearty eating,
and he was not ashore often enough so that such affairs as donation
suppers were distasteful to him, as they are to some persons.

At last the eventful evening came. Bob, dressed in his best suit,
prepared to accompany his parents and Captain Spark to the church.

Such a thing as their son attempting a joke at the donation supper
never occurred to Mr. or Mrs. Henderson. It is true that at the
affair there was more or less jollity and good-natured fun after the
formal function of supper was over and the minister had asked the
blessing. But no one had ever dared play such a joke as Bob
contemplated. If his mother had in the least suspected him of even
dreaming of it she would have made him stay at home.

There was a good-sized throng in the church when the Henderson party
arrived. Long tables had been set in the parlors, which were back
of the church proper. Women in long white aprons were hurrying to
and fro, getting ready to serve the meal. Bob followed his parents
and the captain into the edifice.

"Is everything all ready?" asked Ted Neefus in a whisper as he
approached Bob.

"Don't come near me," was the cautious answer. "Folks'll suspect if
they see us together."

So Ted quickly glided away and was lost in the crowd.

The tables were all set, the victuals put on, and nearly every one
had arrived.

"I guess we'd better get the chairs up now," proposed Mrs. Olney,
who with Mrs. Henderson was superintending things. "Some of the
boys can do it."

"I will, mom," volunteered Bob, who stood near his mother. "I'll
get some of the fellows to help me."

"That's good," said Mrs. Henderson.

Bob hurried away, and soon he, Ted Neefus, Will Merton, Sam Shoop
and some other chums were placing the chairs at the long tables.

"Is it all ready?" asked Ted in a hoarse whisper.

"Hush, can't you!" cautioned Bob. "Do you want to give it away?"

All was in readiness for the grown folks to sit down. They would
eat first, then the tables would be set anew and the young people
would have their turn. There was always more fun at the second
table, and Bob and his chums would take their meals there.

Some one told Rev. Daniel Blackton that supper was ready, and he
moved up to the head of the table, prepared to say grace. In honor
of Mrs. Henderson, who was one of the chief workers in the church,
her relative, Captain Spark, had been accorded