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Code smiled.

"Curse me if I don't like to see a man smile when he's in

trouble," announced Pete roundly. "Skipper, you'll do. You're

young, an' these things come hard, but I cal'late we'll drop all

this talk about sailin' away to furrin parts.

"Now, there's jest two courses left fer you to sail. Either we go

on fishin' an' dodge the gunboat that brings the officer after

you, or we go on fishin' an' let him get you when he comes. I'll

stand by you either way. You've got yer mother to support, God

bless her! An' you've got a right to fill yer hold with fish so's

she can live when they're sold. That's one way of lookin' at it;

the other's plain sailin'!"

"No, Pete; this is too serious. I guess the mother'll have to

suffer this time, too. If they send a man after me I'll be here

and I'll go back and take my medicine. I'll make you skipper, and

you can select your mate. You'll get a skipper's share, and you

can pay mother the regular amount for hiring the Lass--"