"It cert does," declared Thad, positively; and then both laughed.

"Excuse me, old fellow, for not speaking up and letting you into
the facts; but you can see for yourself that the thing's kind of
staggering me a bit. Just to think of its coming today of all
times, when I'm most in need of a home. Talk to me about chance; I
guess there's something better than accident about this."

"All right; I agree with you, Pard Maurice; but suppose you let a
little light in on my dumb brain. Where's the letter from, and
what does she say?" observed the other, eyeing the envelope
dubiously, for he had a sudden fear that it meant the sundering of
the ties that bound them together.

"New Orleans, and it comes from Uncle Ambrose--you've often heard
me speak of him, and that he was a captain on a tramp steamer that
went all over the world picking up cargoes. For three years I've
lost track of him, but he hasn't quite forgotten his nephew
Maurice it seems. Listen to what he says, after telling me how
he's beginning to feel lonely without a relative near, and growing
old all the time. Sit down here where we can look out on the bully
old river, while I read."

Thad dropped beside him on a stone, and cuddled his arms around
his knees in a favorite attitude of his, while he prepared to
listen.

"We are billed to be back here in New Orleans about the fifteenth
of February, and if you can make it, my boy, I'd like to see you
here then. I've got a berth as supercargo open to you, and there's