Page:Stringer - Lonely O'Malley.djvu/334

 "I guess we ain't got any gold," he confessed, bashfully. "But there 's pickled walnuts and jelly!"

Piggie Brennan, meanwhile, repenting of his flight, had edged back to his Captain, and stood with woe-begone face at the thought of such confiscation.

The two old sea-dogs went forward to consult.

"By gad, Silas, I 'm a-thinkin' we never did that thing better, in our own day!"

It was Cap'n Sands who spoke thus magnanimously.

Cap'n Steiner was rubbing a barked leg, ruefully, He was feeling too peevish, at the moment, to agree with the statement.

Far away, a long mile down the hot river, the one o'clock whistle sounded from the sawmill. It was like a school-bell to the ears of truants.

The two old Captains started up, and looked at each other half guiltily.

"And Miss Ar'bella is gittin' to be that naggy-minded, when I 'm a bit late for dinner!" Cap'n Steiner lamented.

"And me, egad, with Lawyer Martin to see