Part 25 (2/2)

”I had thought of sending hiot this Fisheries idea One of my friends told y”

”Do it!” said the Coe in the winter, let hiive hi with us When he co to the Bureau But don't start and then give up”

”Colin won't do that,” his father said, then added pointedly, ”I'll see to it that he doesn't”

”Very well,” said the Coer appeared at the door ”Ask Dr Crafts to step here ato Major Dare, ”is perhaps one of the most valuable men we have on the Bureau

Oh, by the way, boy, when do you want to start?”

”Right away, sir, if possible,” Colin replied

”Is that novelty or enthusias

In a ain, and the Deputy Commissioner came in

”Dr Crafts,” the Commissioner said, after introductions had been ster ants the Coht away, perhaps,” he added as the newcomer smiled at the boy, ”but perhaps in a couple of decades or so And he thinks he ought to start thisfor hi especially,” said the Deputy Cohtfully; ”it's so late in the season”

”Let hi to work off his animal spirits,” the Coo to waste”

”Very well,” the other said genially; ”we'll see e can do Will you join us, Major Dare?”

”I think not,” the boy's father answered; ”I will leave him entirely in your hands, and he can tell me all about it afterwards I want just a word or two ”

”What's your na the hall

”Colin Dare, sir,” the boy responded

”Which is it to be,” the official asked with a pleasant smile, ”'Colin'

or 'Dare'?”

The boy looked up at hih kindliness and fine worth of his companion, and answered promptly:

”'Colin,' sir, if you don't ht, Colin,” was the reply; ”I suppose we must see e can find for you to do Tell me,” he continued, as they entered his office, ”how you ca the Fisheries Bureau?”

Thus adjured, Colin told briefly how his father had tried to interest hi, but that neither had appealed to hi adventures and of the few days he had spent on the Pribilof Islands, recounting the japanese raid with great gusto The Deputy Co but the official account of the fracas was intensely interested and he questioned Colin closely, noting carefully the boy's clear understanding of the seal question

”You have a head for facts, Colin,” he said approvingly, when the whole adventure had been told, ”because you really have noted the i business, and it is more complicated than it looks Go on, now, and tell me how you caain, described hiswith the lieutenant of the revenue cutter and the kindness he had received from him The Deputy Commissioner smiled, for the officer in question was a close personal friend Then Colin told of the sal the capture of the sea-serpent

”It seely, ”that you have becoe in connection with Fisheries even before you coure in a japanese seal raid and to capture a sea-serpent in the sahed and answered: