"Aw, we don't want to," spoke Ted.

"No, I suppose not. Still you're coming."

The man had both boys firmly by their arms, and he turned in the
gateway with them. As he did so, Mrs. Mooney, hearing voices,
ventured to open her door. The light streamed out and showed the
face of the man. At the sight of it Bob uttered an exclamation.

"Why, it's Captain Spark!" he cried.

"That's what. You read my signals right, my lad, and if I'm not
mistaken, you're Bob Henderson."

"Yes, sir."

Captain Jeremiah Spark was an old seafaring man. He was a distant
relative of Bob's mother, and, in fact, he was on his way to call
on her, having just returned from a long voyage, when he ran into
the boys, or, rather, they collided with him.

"So you're playing tricks on a poor, lone widow woman, are you?"
asked the captain in no very pleasant tones.

"We--we didn't mean any harm," said Bob.

"No, I suppose not. Boys never do, but the harm comes. Now I'm
going to march you two lads right up before the mast; and you're
going to apologize to the widow. If you don't, why, I reckon a