Part 15 (1/2)

”Yes, Paul, you shall hereafter be the skipper of the Fawn,” repeated Captain Littleton.

”And I shall be first mate!” exclaimed John, jumping up and clapping his hands with rapture.

”Yes, and you shall be first mate, John; for I have not forgotten that a part of my debt of grat.i.tude for the rescue of my daughter is in your favor, my fine fellow. The Fawn shall be owned between you.”

”Thank you, sir,” replied John; ”but it was Paul that saved Carrie.”

”If you had not handled the old boat well, Paul could not have saved her. You are fairly ent.i.tled to a share of the honor of that n.o.ble exploit.”

”But, Captain Littleton,” interposed Paul, ”I do not want to be paid for what I did. It was only my duty to save Carrie.”

”Everybody does not do his duty in such a trying time as that was, Paul. But I have not said a word about paying you.”

”I know you have not, sir; but I suppose that is what you mean.”

”I mean nothing of the kind, my boy. I could not pay you. There lies the Flyaway,” continued the Captain, pointing to his beautiful yacht; ”she cost me six thousand dollars. If I were called upon to decide which I would lose, Carrie or the Flyaway, which should I choose?”

”The Flyaway, of course.”

”Then the Flyaway would have been but a small compensation for my child.

Nay, if I were called upon to decide between my child and all I am worth in the world, I would sacrifice all my earthly possessions for her.

Then, if I paid you all I could pay you, it would be all I have, Paul.

You will not, therefore, consider this boat as a reward for saving Carrie's life.”

”I didn't mean that, sir,” stammered Paul, ”but----”

”But you thought I meant it. I did not. I shall never be able to discharge the debt of grat.i.tude I owe you.”

”We will call it square, if you please, sir,” said John.

”We will not, my fine fellow,” added the Captain, laughing at John's matter-of-fact speech. ”I had been thinking of making you a present of a boat before this event happened, Paul; but I confess, the gift was hastened by your daring act. The long and the short of the whole matter is, that we will consider the Fawn a memorial of the rescue of Carrie, and not a reward. She is a strong, well-built, and safe boat, and I think will just answer your purpose. By the way, how do you like her name?”

”First rate, sir.”

”I think I heard you suggest that name for a boat once.”

”It is just the name I should have given her,” replied Paul, so excited by the extraordinary event of the hour, that he could hardly keep his seat.

”I am glad, then, that she suits you in every respect. Now, if you will put me ash.o.r.e near my house, I will leave the Fawn and her owners to their future destiny.”

Paul landed Captain Littleton on the pier behind his house, and after pouring out his thanks for the magnificent gift, they parted company.

The Fawn was headed away from the rocks, and again stood out into the bay before the fresh breeze.

”I say, Paul, isn't this a stunner?” exclaimed John, suddenly jumping up from his seat, after he had remained silent and motionless for the full s.p.a.ce of five minutes--a most extraordinary occurrence with him.

”What do you mean by a 'stunner,' John,” asked Paul, with dignity.

”Well, what a--what a--what a thundering thing this is!” sputtered John. ”Only to think----”