e that 'll make it smooth
sailin' for you the rest of your life. I wish you both luck."

Captain Perez shook hands very gravely. He was still a little suspicious
of his chum's propensity to tease. It did not tend to make him less
uneasy when, a little later, Captain Eri opened the parlor door and
whispered, "Say, Perez, I've jest thought of some-thin'. What are you
goin' to say to M'lissy Busteed? Her heart 'll be broke."

"Aw, git out!" was the disgusted answer.

"Well, I only mentioned it. Folks have had to pay heavy for breach of
promise 'fore now. Good-night."

Perez manfully told of his engagement at the breakfast table next
morning, although he said nothing concerning the rest of his adventures.
He was rather taken aback to find that no one seemed greatly surprised.
Everyone congratulated him, of course, and it was gratifying to discern
the high opinion of the future Mrs. Ryder held by Mrs. Snow and the
rest. Captain Jerry solemnly shook hands with him after the meal was
over and said, "Perez, you done the right thing. There's nothin' like
married life, after all."

"Then why don't you try it yourself?" was the unexpected question.
"Seems to me we'll have to settle that matter of yours pretty soon. I
meant to speak to Eri 'bout it 'fore this, but I've had so much on my
mind. I will to-night when he comes back from fishin'."

Captain Jerry made no further remarks, but walked thoughtfully away.

So that evening, when they were together in Captain Jerry's room after
supper, Perez, true to his promise, said:

"Eri, it seems to me we've got to do somethin' 'bout Mrs. Snow. She was
hired to be housekeeper while John was sick. Now he's dead, and she'll
think it's queer if we don't settle that marryin' bus'ness. Ain't that
so?"

"Humph!" grunted Captain Jerry. "Perez is in a mighty sweat to git other
folks married jest 'cause he's goin' to be. I don't see why she can't
keep on bein' housekeeper jest the same as she's always been."

"Well, I do, and so do you, and you know it. We agreed to the
housekeepin' bus'ness jest as a sort of put off. Now we can't put off
no longer. Mrs. Snow come down here 'cause we advertised for a wife, and
she's been so everlastin' good that I feel 'most ashamed every time I
think of it. No use, you've got to ask her to marry you. He has, hasn't
he, Eri?"

"Yes," answered Captain Eri laconically.

The sacrifice squirmed. "I hate to ask," he said. "Why don't we wait a
spell, and le