CHAPTER IV

TALKING IT OVER

Captain Spark was invited to spend a week or more at the Henderson
home. He was up bright and early the next morning--in fact, before
any one else, and Bob, hearing some one moving around downstairs,
and knowing his father and mother were not in the habit of having
such an early breakfast, descended to see who it was.

"Good-morning, my lad," greeted the mariner. "I suppose you are
going to take the morning watch and holystone the decks. Nothing
like being active when you're young. It will keep you from getting
old."

"Yes, sir," replied Bob, for he did not know what else to say.

"Haven't got any more tic-tacs, have you?" and there was a twinkle
in the captain's eyes.

"No, sir."

"That's right. If you've got to play tricks, do it on somebody your
size. Then it's fair. Don't scare lone widows."

"I won't do it again," promised Bob, who felt a little ashamed of
his prank of the previous night.

Soon Mrs. Henderson came downstairs to get breakfast, and when the
meal was over Bob got ready for school, Mr. Henderson leaving for