The officer looked around again. It would not do to make a
mistake. Captain Corbet's words were not without effect.

"Yea!" cried Captain Corbet. "Yea, naval sir! I'm a free Nova
Scotian as free as a bird. I cruise about my natyve coasts whar I
please. Who's to hender? Seize me if you dar, an it'll be the
dearest job you ever tried. This here is my own private pleasure
yacht. These are my young friends, natyves, an amatoor fishermen.
Cast your eye down into yonder hold, and see if this here's a
fishin craft."

The officer looked down, and saw a cooking stove, trunks, and
bedding. He looked around in doubt.

But this scene had lasted long enough.

"O, nonsense!" said Bart, suddenly pulling up his line, and coming
forward; "see here--it's all right," said he to the officer.
"We're not fishermen. It's as he says. We're only out on a short
cruise, you know, for pleasure, and that sort of thing."

As Bart turned, the others did the same. Bruce lounged up,
dragging his line, followed by Arthur and the others.

"We're responsible for the schooner," said Bruce, quietly. "It's
ours for the time being. We don't look like foreign fishermen--do
we?"

The officer looked at the boys, and saw his mistake at once. He
was afraid that he had made himself ridiculous. The faces and