unded, Ichabod excitedly hastened forward, climbing the
steep slope of the nearest dune. Roy and Van Dusen followed him, for
they believed in the accuracy of the old man's observation that the girl
must in truth be somewhere near his pet.

As the three reached a cleared space above the thick growth of bushes
about the base and sides of the dune, Uncle Icky, who was some distance
in advance of the others, stopped short. He stood for a few seconds in
silence, peering intently ahead. Then he cried out in a loud voice:

"Wall, I'll be eternally damned!" He pointed a bony forefinger. "Now,
what do you men think o' that? It's him, all right, but, by cracky, the
ole devil, as well as myself, has changed consider'ble in his attitude
toward the other sex, since last we met! Don't ye see, men, he's
a-scratchin' an' a-kityka-dawin' thar fer three hens!"

Both the old man's hearers burst out laughing over this comparison of
the rooster's conduct to Ichabod's own, of which they had been given a
full account during their voyaging together.

"Wait a minute, folks," he called out as he trotted forward, "till I
gits my Shrimp, an' then I'll jine ye!"

Ichabod gave his whistle, so familiar to the rooster, as he walked
forward. The feathered ex-alarm clock, now become a gay Lothario, looked
up from his pecking and scratching. Then, seeing his old Island
companion approaching, Shrimp hurriedly scurried off into the thick
growth of bushes, and as he went he issued an authoritative call to the
hens to follow, to which they rendered prompt obedience. Ichabod halted,
and stared for a moment in dismay. He made no attempt to continue the
pursuit. He realized that the old rooster had had a taste of real life,
like himself he had come to realize the mistake of living alone on an
island of sandy waste, far from the society of the gentler sex. As the
old fisherman returned to his companions he spoke gravely:

"Wall, I don't know as how I can blame him. If he's gittin' as much
pleasure out o' his new life as I aim to git out o' mine, I don't
believe as how he orter be disturbed. He sure was a faithful alarmer,
an' I don't see any reason why he shouldn't make a good husband an'
father o' a family."

The three now descended to the shore line. They had made their landing
in such haste that they had failed to see the little tender lying in the
cove a short distance below. Then, presently, the eyes of the three fell
on the shack. Roy halted as abru