Part 38 (1/2)

They walked in silence for a while before Paul spoke.

”Of course you're right, Father. If you wish I'll keep at school and go through college. But I've been ashamed of myself a good many times.

I've been so selfish. I never thought of anybody but myself and my own pleasure before I went away. Being with Dan and Mr. Amesbury, and working, myself, has made me want to be more like them and do something worth while. Life would be pretty tiresome without anything to do but just loaf around.”

Densmore placed his hand on Paul's shoulder.

”I'm glad to hear you say that, Paul. That's the spirit that makes a real man. I'm afraid we coddled and indulged you until you were becoming spoiled.”

”I failed in my examinations at school, too,” continued Paul, ”but I won't fail again. I'll study now.”

”That's the way to talk, my son. Stick to it, and when you're graduated from college you'll be prepared, with a little training and experience, to take my place. That's what I'm looking forward to.”

”All right, Father. You've got my promise to do my best, and here's my hand on it. It's my chance and I'm going to make the most of it. But I wish--I wish Dan had a chance too.”

”What kind of a chance do you want him to have?”

”I--I don't just know. Dan's pretty independent. He wouldn't take money from you unless he worked for it, and he has to work to help his folks. He wants to be a skipper some day.”

”Do you think he'd like a berth on one of our steamers?”

”Yes, I guess so--if he could go home sometimes to see his folks.”

”That can be arranged.”

And it was arranged. Dan was given a berth on a steamer plying between New York and South American ports, which he gratefully accepted.

Paul was graduated from Princeton six years later, and after a year's apprentices.h.i.+p in his father's office was appointed General Superintendent of the Atlantic and Pacific Steams.h.i.+p Company.

It was arranged to celebrate the occasion with a dinner at Mr.

Densmore's club. Dan's s.h.i.+p was in port, and he, too, was to share in the honors. Paul insisted that the dinner would be incomplete without Captain Bluntt, and after many persuasive letters and cablegrams the Captain was prevailed upon to journey again to New York, and to bring with him Skipper Rudd o' the _Ready Hand_, Dan's ”Dad,” ostensibly to pay Dan a brief visit.

It was a jolly dinner, free from formality. Remington, Ainsworth and a half dozen of Paul's college friends were there. Densmore at the head of the table acted as toastmaster, with Dan at his right and Paul at his left, which was in accordance with Paul's wish.

When coffee was served, Densmore, after extending a welcome to the guests, announced that they had been asked to join not simply in the celebration of Paul's advancement to the superintendency of the Atlantic and Pacific Steams.h.i.+p Company, but also in the celebration of his first official act as an officer of the company. Of this, he said, Paul would speak for himself.

Paul began with a humorous description of his introduction to Captain Bluntt and the _North Star_, which pleased the Captain wondrously, and created much merriment. Then he pa.s.sed on to the days when he and Dan were cast away, of how Dan's resourcefulness and optimism, leavened with the philosophy of Skipper Rudd, had kept up his spirits; of Dan's courage and high ability; of the strong and enduring friends.h.i.+p between him and Dan, a friends.h.i.+p akin to brotherly affection.