The Wilderness Castaways Part 38

They walked in silence for a while before Paul spoke.

"Of course you're right, Father. If you wish I'll keep at school and go through college. But I've been ashamed of myself a good many times.

I've been so selfish. I never thought of anybody but myself and my own pleasure before I went away. Being with Dan and Mr. Amesbury, and working, myself, has made me want to be more like them and do something worth while. Life would be pretty tiresome without anything to do but just loaf around."

Densmore placed his hand on Paul's shoulder.

"I'm glad to hear you say that, Paul. That's the spirit that makes a real man. I'm afraid we coddled and indulged you until you were becoming spoiled."

"I failed in my examinations at school, too," continued Paul, "but I won't fail again. I'll study now."

"That's the way to talk, my son. Stick to it, and when you're graduated from college you'll be prepared, with a little training and experience, to take my place. That's what I'm looking forward to."

"All right, Father. You've got my promise to do my best, and here's my hand on it. It's my chance and I'm going to make the most of it. But I wish--I wish Dan had a chance too."

"What kind of a chance do you want him to have?"

"I--I don't just know. Dan's pretty independent. He wouldn't take money from you unless he worked for it, and he has to work to help his folks. He wants to be a skipper some day."

"Do you think he'd like a berth on one of our steamers?"

"Yes, I guess so--if he could go home sometimes to see his folks."

"That can be arranged."

And it was arranged. Dan was given a berth on a steamer plying between New York and South American ports, which he gratefully accepted.

Paul was graduated from Princeton six years later, and after a year's apprenticeship in his father's office was appointed General Superintendent of the Atlantic and Pacific Steamship Company.

It was arranged to celebrate the occasion with a dinner at Mr.

Densmore's club. Dan's ship was in port, and he, too, was to share in the honors. Paul insisted that the dinner would be incomplete without Captain Bluntt, and after many persuasive letters and cablegrams the Captain was prevailed upon to journey again to New York, and to bring with him Skipper Rudd o' the _Ready Hand_, Dan's "Dad," ostensibly to pay Dan a brief visit.

It was a jolly dinner, free from formality. Remington, Ainsworth and a half dozen of Paul's college friends were there. Densmore at the head of the table acted as toastmaster, with Dan at his right and Paul at his left, which was in accordance with Paul's wish.

When coffee was served, Densmore, after extending a welcome to the guests, announced that they had been asked to join not simply in the celebration of Paul's advancement to the superintendency of the Atlantic and Pacific Steamship Company, but also in the celebration of his first official act as an officer of the company. Of this, he said, Paul would speak for himself.

Paul began with a humorous description of his introduction to Captain Bluntt and the _North Star_, which pleased the Captain wondrously, and created much merriment. Then he pa.s.sed on to the days when he and Dan were cast away, of how Dan's resourcefulness and optimism, leavened with the philosophy of Skipper Rudd, had kept up his spirits; of Dan's courage and high ability; of the strong and enduring friendship between him and Dan, a friendship akin to brotherly affection.

"Not alone the high esteem in which I hold Dan Rudd, but his marked efficiency as a navigator, as shown by his record while in the employ of our company, has induced me, as my first act as an official, to appoint him first officer of the steamship _Amazonian_, and to announce that he is also first in line for advancement to a captaincy."

Dan was quite overcome. He had received no hint of the proposed appointment, and when he arose to express his thanks, emotion choked his voice.

"I can't get words to thank you, Paul," said he. Then after a pause, lapsing, under emotion, into the old vernacular, he continued: "I were not expectin' this. I hopes I'll prove worthy. You're wonderful good, Paul--sayin' all those things. But I want t' say, Paul, you're th'

grittiest mate I ever cruised with, an' you were doin' more than I did t' work us out of the bush when we were cast away. I'm just a sailor, not used to talkin', an' I can't get th' words t' say what I wants to--but--but--I'm wonderful thankful."

The moment Dan sat down Captain Bluntt was on his feet.

"That's it! That's it!" he blurted. "Told you so, Mr. Remington! Yes, sir! Told you Dan Rudd would be a skipper some day! Had the makin' of a skipper! Yes, sir, he had! Lad of his parts sure to come to it! I'm proud! Proud!"

Then Dan's "Dad" was called upon for a word. The rough, kindly old sailor-trapper, tanned and weather-beaten, was plainly laboring under embarra.s.sment.

"I'm a wonderful proud man this night--wonderful proud an' wonderful thankful," he began. "An' I'm thinkin' I has fair reason t' be proud an' thankful. On my knees before I sleeps I'll thank th' Lard for His blessin's. Standin' here before you all I has too few words t' thank th' gentlemen as I wants to for their kindness t' Dan.

"But Dan's deservin' o' un. He were always a rare true lad. He were never shirkin' duty as he seen it. When he were just a wee lad I says t' he, 'Dan,' says I, 'when you has work t' do, do un th' best you knows how, an' you'll always be findin' th' Lard standin' back o' ye'

t' help, but don't go askin' th' Lard t' do things for ye what ye can do yourself. I'm thinkin' 't is always Dan's way t' foller them precepts, an' t' do things he has t' do th' best he knows how. Dan's been a rare good son t' me an' his mother--a rare good son--always."

"Dan," suggested Paul, when Remington and Ainsworth had each said a word of congratulation, "before we go let's have some music. I'm sure you have a harmonica somewhere in your pockets."

"That mouth organ!" exploded Captain Bluntt. "Don't blow that mouth organ, you rascal, or I'll wring your neck! By the imps of the sea I will!"

"Captain Bluntt let you play it once at our request," said Remington, when the laugh that followed the Captain's outburst had subsided, "and I'm sure he will again."

"And you wants! And you wants!" consented Captain Bluntt, his eyes twinkling with merriment.

"What shall it be, Paul?" asked Dan, producing the harmonica.

"You remember what you were playing that Christmas day when poor old Amesbury surprised us at our campfire above Fort Reliance? Play that."

And Dan struck up,

"Over the hills and far away."

THE END.