The homely native word pleased the old man, and he smiled leniently.

"Waal," he said, removing the pipe to knock out the ashes and put it in
his pocket (much to the other's satisfaction), "waal, I guess we kin fix
it. Mort, here, an' me, we was goin' out airly in the mornin'. Ef you
kin turn out in time, ye mought go with us. I've got a gun for you, but
you'll hev to pay fer the powder an' shot, an' give me my share o' the
birds."

"We won't quarrel about terms," laughed the other. "I'll be on hand
without fail, and am much obliged."

"Oh, ye're welcome; good-day. Remember, four sharp, naow!" as they
turned to go.

"You see," said the young man to the boy, as soon as they were beyond
ear-shot, "he didn't put me through the manual of arms, after all. I
feel almost defrauded of my just rights. Do you suppose I knocked the
conceit out of him with my talk of big game?"

"I don't know," said Morton, "but I guess he took a liking to you. He's
queer about that. Sometimes he won't look at these fancy fellers that
come down from the city, no matter how much they offer. He says he can't
abide 'em--that a fool of a loon is too good to die at their hands!"

"And he isn't far wrong, I'm thinking. Are you going that way? Then you
will pass near the yacht, won't you? Have you any objections to taking a
look at it, to see if it is safe? Oh, and by the way, there's a
basketful of eatables stowed away under the stern-seat that we won't
need now; couldn't you dispose of them in some way?"