t I
dearly love everything about the sea. Were you ever a deep sea diver?
Somehow you look like one."

"I was a pearl-fisher for many years," the seaman answered as calmly as
though diving for pearls was one of the most ordinary trades in the
world. But his eyes twinkled as he heard Madge's gasp of admiration and
caught the expression on the faces of the other girls.

"You were looking for pearls in those oysters and mussel shells when our
boat came along, weren't you?" divined Madge, regarding him with large
eyes.

The man nodded a smiling answer.

"Yes, but I didn't expect to find any pearls," he answered. "It is
strange how a man's old occupation will cling to him, even after he has
long ago given it up. There are very few pearls to be found now in the
Delaware Bay or the waters around here."

Captain Jules was gravely removing lobsters from his basket for Tania's
entertainment while he talked to Madge. Tania was watching him,
breathless with admiration and terror. The captain would take hold of one
of the great, crawling things, rub it softly on its horned head as one
would rub a tabby cat to make it purr. He would then set the lobster up
on its hind claws and the funny crustacean would fall quietly asleep, as
though it were nodding in a chair.

"I never saw anything so queer in my life," chuckled Phil. "You hypnotize
the lobsters, don't you?"

Captain Jules shook his shaggy head. He was proud of the appreciation his
accomplishment had excited. "No; I don't hypnotize them," he explained.
"Anybody can make old Father Lobster fall asleep if he only rubs him in
the right place. You are not going, are you?" for the girls had risen to
depart.

"I am afraid we must," said Madge; "we promised to get back to our
houseboat by noon. If you come down to Cape May, won't you please come to
see us? Our houseboat is a rival to your boathouse."

"You are very kind," answered the old captain, shaking his head, "but I
don't do much visiting. I thank you just the same. Let me fix you up a
basket of fish. Afraid of the lobsters, aren't you, little girl?" he
said, smiling at Tania.

The old sailor followed his visitors to help them aboard their rowboat.
He walked beside Madge, keeping a careful watch on his monkey, which
still chattered and gesticulated, showing her hatred of the little
captain.

The girls realized that this man had the manners of a gentleman, although
he looked as rough and uncouth as a common sailor. Th