is beautiful. 'Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife.' With your
permission, I'll stay here. The leopard may or may not change his
spots, but I sha'n't. I like this one and here I stay. Yes, I mean it. I
stay--as your assistant. Come, what do you say? Is it a go?"

The lightkeeper rose once more. "I'm goin' on watch," he said with
decision. "You turn in. You'll feel better in the mornin'."

He started towards the tower. But John Brown sprang from the bench and
followed him.

"Not until you've answered my question," he declared. "AM I to be your
assistant?"

"No, course you ain't. It's dum foolishness. Besides, I ain't got the
say; the government hires its own keepers."

"But you can square the government. That will be easy. Why," with a
modest gesture, "look what the government is getting. It will jump at
the chance. Atkins, you must say yes."

"I sha'n't, neither. Let go of my arm. It's blame foolishness, I tell
you. Why," impatiently, "course it's foolishness! I don't know the first
thing about you."

"What of it? I don't know anything about you, either."

Again the lightkeeper seemed unaccountably agitated. He stopped in his
stride and whirled to face his companion.