"'Guess she'd carry stays'l," said Disko, rolling one eye at his
brother.

"Guess she wouldn't to any sorter profit. What's the sense o'
wastin' canvas?" the farmer-sailor replied.

The wheel twitched almost imperceptibly in Disko's hands. A few
seconds later a hissing wave-top slashed diagonally across the
boat, smote Uncle Salters between the shoulders, and drenched him
from head to foot. He rose sputtering, and went forward, only to
catch another.

"See dad chase him, all around the deck," said Dan. "Uncle Salters
he thinks his quarter-share's our canvas. Dad's put this duckin'
act up on him two trips runnin'. Hi! That found him where he
feeds." Uncle Salters had taken refuge by the foremast, but a wave
slapped him over the knees. Disko's face was as blank as the
circle of the wheel.

"'Guess she'd lie easier under stays'l, Salters," said Disko, as
though he had seen nothing.

"Set your old kite, then," roared the victim, through a cloud of
spray; "only don't lay it to me if anything happens. Penn, you go
below right off an' git your coffee. You ought to hev more sense
than to bum araound on deck this weather."

"Now they'll swill coffee an' play checkers till the cows come
home," said Dan, as Uncle Salters hustled Penn into the fore-