Solomon meanwhile stood apart, grinning from ear to ear, with his
little black beads of eyes twinkling with merriment.

"Halo, Solomon! What do you say to lobsters in July?"

Solomon's head wagged up and down, as though he were indulging in
some quiet, unobtrusive laughter, and it was some time before he
replied.

"O, neber you fear, chil'en," he said; "ef you're only goin to get
sick from lobsters, you'll live a long day. You may go in for
clams, an lobsters, an oysters any time ob de yeah you like,--ony
dey mus be cooked up proper."

"I'm gratified to hear that," said Bruce, gravely, "but at the same
time puzzled. For Mrs. Pratt says the exact opposite; and so here
we have two great authorities in direct opposition. So what are we
to think?"

"O, there's no difficulty," said Arthur, "for the doctors are not
of equal authority. Mrs. Pratt is a quack, but Solomon is a
professional--a regular, natural, artistic, and scientific cook,
which at sea is the same as doctor."

The dinner was prolonged to an extent commensurate with its own
inherent excellence and the capacity of the boys to appreciate it;
but at length, like all things mortal, it came to a termination,
and the company went up once more to the deck. On looking round it
was evident to all that a change had taken place.