CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
AN INVITATION.
"Yes, I'm Eric's brother," said Fritz, grasping the huge paw of the other, and shaking hands cordially,--"Fritz Dort, at your service.

I'm only too glad to have the pleasure of personally thanking you, on my own and my mother's behalf, for your bravery in saving my poor brother here from a watery grave, as well as for all your kindness to him afterwards! He has told me about you, captain, and how you rescued him at sea, besides treating him so very handsomely afterwards." "Avast there!" roared out the Yankee skipper in a voice which was as loud as if he were hailing the maintop from his own quarter-deck, albeit it had a genial, cheery tone and there was a good-natured expression on his jolly, weather-beaten face.

"Stow all thet fine lingo, my hearty! I only did for the b'y, mister, no more'n any other sailor would hev done fur a shepmate in distress; though, I reckon I wer powerful glad I overhauled thet there jolly-boat in time to save him, afore starvation an' the sun hed done their work on him.

I opine another day's exposure would hev settled the b'y's hash; yes, sir, I du!" "I've no doubt of that," said Fritz kindly.

"From what he says, you must have picked him up just in the nick of time." "Yes, sirree, you bet on thet," responded the skipper.