shrewd, good natured face. He scanned Miss Hatherton and myself with
open amazement, and shook hands heartily with Captain Rudstone. "Glad
to meet you again, sir," he cried in a nasal
voice. "My mate wakened me up to listen to the row over yonder,"
pointing to the shore, "and that's why I'm on deck at this hour. I
might
have guessed you had a hand in the rumpus. But what does it mean,
anyway?". The captain explained, making the situation thoroughly
clear, and the little
skipper listened with thoughtful attention.

"It's an ugly scrape," was his grave comment. "It is that; but you
can get us out of it. What do you say?" "I say I'll do it," cried the
skipper. "I'm a Hudson Bay man at heart,

and I'll save the lot o