18 



THE FATTED CALF. 



dozen gashes at once. Another swing of the club 

 put him out of his misery. 



"The old man came splashing and sputtering 

 out of the surf, dragging his lifeless prey after 

 him. 



" ' Blast the boy/ he yelled, ' I've got a pretty 

 drenching.' 



" Cap'n Crocker roared with laughter. ' Better 

 have left the boy free to run, sir ! ' 



" The old man shook himself like a wet dog. 



" ' Cap'n,' cried Crocker, rolling from side to 

 side with amusement, ' can you tell me the time 

 o' day ? ' 



" The old man felt for his watch, only to dis- 

 cover that he had ruined it in the surf ! 



" Crocker stamped about the beach, bellowing 

 like a facetions big bull. ' O-ho-ho ! ' he howled, 

 I've seen many a beautiful timepiece go in soak 

 in my day, but never before on account of a 

 rascally cabin boy with a stone on his back ! ' 



" So that's how the old man put his watch in 

 soak, your majesty. Please, may I stop now ? " 



He looked into Dorothy's eyes as he spoke. 

 They looked into his. There was nothing re- 

 markable in that, but nevertheless he felt as if he 

 had taken something that didn't belong to him. 

 However, he had no desire to put it back. 



