must have happened long ago. But your nature was to fight, and you

fought through, as you always do. A drumstick for your praise of peace!"

Admiral Darling, a tall, stout man in the sixty-fifth year of his age,

looked down at his welcome and famous guest as if he knew a great deal

more of his nature than the owner did. And this made that owner, who

thought very highly of his own perception, look up and laugh.

"Here comes the fish!" he cried. "Come along, Darling. Never lose a

moment--that's my rule. You can't get along as fast as I can. I'll go

and settle all the business for you."

"Why should you be in such a hurry always? You will never come to my

age if you carry on so. You ought to tow a spar astern. Thank God, they

don't know who he is, and I'll take good care not to let them know. If

this is what comes of quick promotion, I am glad that I got on slowly.

Well, he may do as he likes for me. He always does--that's one thing."

Stoutly grumbling thus, the elder and far heavier Admiral descended the

hill to the white gate slowly, as behooved the owner. And, by the time

he halted there, the other had been upon the beach five minutes, and

taken command of the fishing fleet.

"Starboard there! Brail up your gaff! Is that the way to take the

ground? Ease helm, Rosalie. Smartly, smartly. Have a care, you lubber

there. Fenders out! So, so. Now stand by, all! There are two smart

lads among you, and no more. All the rest are no better than a pack

of Crappos. You want six months in a man-of-war's launch. This is what

comes of peace already!"

The fishermen stared at this extraordinary man, who had taken all the

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