lot."

"Indeed they are. Don't forget to tell Bob I forgive him. I don't
want him to worry. Tell him, also, that he must be a little more
thoughtful."

"I will."

When Captain Spark and Mrs. Henderson went home from the donation
supper that night they discussed on the way the further plans of
sending Bob to sea.

"We must consult Mr. Henderson about it," said the captain.

"I shall, this very night. I will put up with Bob's nonsense no
longer."

Mr. Henderson was found sitting in the dining-room, reading a paper.
He had sent Bob to bed on arriving at the house, for Mr. Henderson
was a man who did not believe in inflicting punishment in the heat
of passion. He wanted to calm down before he decided how his son
ought to be made to realize the wrong he had done. To tell the
truth, he was quite at a loss just what punishment to inflict.

He had thought of a sound whipping, but he realized, as had the
minister, that Bob was too old for this. Nothing so breaks the
proud spirit of a boy as personal chastisement, after he has reached
a certain age.

And, as yet, Mr. Henderson was not aware of the proposition Captain
Spark had made to Bob's mother, and her practical acceptance of it.
Of course, Mr. Henderson had heard the first talk of sending Bob to
sea, but after his wife's refusal to consider it he had thought no
more about it.

"Well, Enos," asked Mrs. Henderson, as she and the captain entered,
"have you considered what to do with Bob?"

"I have, Lucy, but I have reached no conclusion."

"I have."

"You have? What is it?"

"I am going to send him on a voyage with Captain Spark. That is, if
you consent."

"I will agree to anything you think best. But I think you will find
it hard work to get Bob to go. I fear he will dislike the idea very
much."

"Why so?" inquired the captain.

"Well, Bob has many friends in the village--many boy-chums--and I
think he would object very strongly to leaving them, and going off
among a lot of strange men in a ship."

"I wouldn't be a stranger to him."

"No, you would not, but the others would be. And I think he would
be somewhat afraid."

"Afraid? What's there to be afraid of on the ocean, with a stout
deck beneath your feet? The ocean is the safest place in the world.
I'm frightened half out of my wits every time I come on land. There
are so many chances of accidents. The train may run off the track,
steam-boilers may blow up, there may be an earthqu