If the captain of your ship here will promise to bring me back again to Tristan, I will go over there with you for a couple of days or so, to see you comfortably fixed up, as you Americans say, at Inaccessible Island, before you and your brother are left to yourselves." "Agreed!" exclaimed Eric joyfully.

"I will ask the skipper at once." To dart across the deck to where Captain Brown was now standing by the open hatchway, overseeing the provisions being passed down into the ship's hold, was, for the sailor lad, but the work of a moment! "Oh, Captain Brown,"-- commenced Eric breathlessly, his excitement almost stopping his speech for a second.
"Waall, what's all the muss about ?" said the old skipper, turning round and scanning the lad's eager face.

"Do you an' your brother want to back out o' the venture naow?
I saw you talkin' to thet Tristaner you met here with me in the spring." "Back out of the project ?" repeated Eric very indignantly.

"Give up my pet plan, when everything is turning more and more in favour of it, captain?
I should think not, indeed!" "Then, what's the matter ?" asked the skipper.
"I want you to grant me a favour," said Eric, hesitating a bit as the other looked at him steadfastly, a half-smile, half-grin on his weather- beaten countenance.
"Thought sunthin' wer up!" ejaculated the skipper.

"Waall, what's this durned favour o' your'n ?" he added in his good-natured way.