he tapped Tite on the shoulder, exultingly.

"It's very kind of you," returned Tite, modestly, "to take this interest
in me, a stranger to you. I shall do my best to merit your confidence
and respect."

"A stranger, eh? Not a bit of it!" resumed the captain, quickly. "Look
ye here, my hearty. Your good old father and me was old friends. That
was years ago, you know. Meeting you brings an old love affair of thirty
years right back to my heart again. Yes, my hearty, that old feelin's
just as good as new this minute. God bless yer father; and God bless yer
mother, too! Here's a hand what'll always give a warm welcome to the son
of old Hanz Toodlebug--"

"Then you knew my father? I hope, sir, I may never do anything to lessen
your respect for him."

"Know'd him?" resumed the captain. "Yes, sir, and yer mother, too. And
when Captain Price Bottom says he know'd a man, he means it. Your father
and me was rivals!" Here he touched Tite on the elbow, and winked
significantly. "That is--well, it's rather a delicate subject--he
courted yer mother, and so did I! There, sir, there's just what it is.
She was as trim a young craft then as ever spread sails, and as full of
goodness and good looks." Captain Bottom again paused for a moment,
shook his head despondingly, and placed his hand on his heart. "A number
of young bloods like me trimmed their sails, but did'nt overhaul her.
Many a heart-flutter she caused me in them days. And just when I
thought, says I to myself, 'I'm to wind'rd,' and had got ready to make
fast to her--" Here he paused for a moment, and then lowering his voice,
continued: "Well, what does she go and do? Blow me, my hearty, if she