THE BEATING OF THE JACKS. 103 



something ; then he appeared to forget all about 

 it, and sculled away, leaving me standing there." 



" Bob is a singular character," said the doc- 

 tor. " Long John, Chief, and Busby, all seem 

 to look up to him as a monument of facts ; but 

 I have never heard him say anything. He is 

 certainly veiy reticent, but is a good fisherman." 



" How long have you known Bob Rand ? " 

 asked the doctor of the commodore, who just at 

 that moment came in. 



" Two years come Michaelmas, sir," was the 

 reply. 



" He is a very bright man, is he not ? " con- 

 tinued the doctor. 



" That he is," said Busby. " I reckon, sir, 

 there's few on the reef that's his ekal." 



" On what points ? " persisted the doctor. 



" Ony pints, sir. I never heard him express 

 himself particular like ; but Long John, his pard- 

 ner, has sounded him, and says there's few like 

 him. It's the general opinion, sir," and the old 

 man hobbled out to get the boat ready. 



" Bob Rand seems to have impressed every 

 one with his wealth of mind without doing any- 



