“H’m, I see,” Parson Dan quietly remarked, while a slight gleam of pride shone in his eyes.  He glanced toward his wife, but her head was bent over some sewing she had picked up from the table.

“I’ve been watchin’ that boy of yours fer some time,” the captain continued, “and he’s the right stuff.  I know more about him than ye think.  I’d ‘a’ given my cow to have seen him put that toad into Bella Simpkins’ lap, ho, ho, ho!  That was the best thing I ever heard, ha, ha, ha!”

“But some of the neighbours think it was sheer badness which made him do it,” Mrs. Royal replied.

“I know they do, confound their skins!” the captain roared, springing to his feet in his excitement.  “Haven’t I heard it on all sides?  They twist every blessed thing he does into badness, and then account fer it all by sayin’ that he is a pauper.  But, by jinks! there isn’t an ounce of badness about that boy.  I’ve taken an interest in him simply because—­well, mebbe I’m a cranky cuss—­and when I see people down on a lad, I like to take his part.  And look here, parson, I’m givin’ warnin’.”

“What warning?” questioned the clergyman, shrinking back from the huge fist which was suddenly thrust toward his face.

“Warnin’ to you, parson, not to bury any one I knock out who interferes with that lad of yours.  It’ll be sich a clear case of suicide that ye won’t dare to read the Burial Service over him.  Everybody knows now that I’ve taken that boy under my care, and if any one runs aginst my fists it won’t be an accident, but a clear case of self-destruction, and it won’t be necessary to hold an inquest.”

Both Mr. and Mrs. Royal smiled at the captain’s quaint expression of loyalty to Rodney.

“I trust there’ll be no more trouble,” the clergyman replied.  “Come, fill up your pipe again.  My city friend would be delighted to know that Rodney’s able champion enjoyed the tobacco he sent.”

“Well, I don’t care if I do,” and the captain knocked the cold ashes out of his pipe.  “I’ll fill up, and then git home.  But there is one thing I want to ask ye, and that’s what brought me over here to-night.  Me and Betsey are pretty lonely at times.  We never see a child around the house, and we’d both consider it a special favour if ye’d let yer boy come to see us once in awhile.”

“Why, certainly,” the parson replied.  “I give my consent, and I feel sure that you will, won’t you?” and he turned to his wife.

“Yes, captain, I am quite willing for Rodney to go, and it is very thoughtful of you to want him.  I hope that he will behave himself.”

“No fear of that,” the captain eagerly returned.  “I’ve got some fine apples jist waitin’ fer him, and several other things to surprise him when he comes.  So, good-night, I must be gittin’ along.”

CHAPTER VII

CHUMS