trot off merrily together to call on Cap'n Buffum. He was still a little shaky, but eager to hear over and over again the circumstances, outside of his own part, in the apprehension of the man he confidently asserted to be Perkins. Though with some little nervousness he looked forward to the time when he should be summoned as a witness to face the man in court.
Finally, the visitors announced that they must be off.
"Sorry to see ye go," declared the old man huskily. "One of ye did me a turn I won't never fergit, and all of ye would a done the like if the 'casion had riz to do it. Come back to see Bill Buffum, will ye? I ain't no more'n teched the top layer o' my pile o' sea-yarns. I don't have to do like the preachers—turn my bar'l over and start 'em all over agin. Blister my boots, my bar'l ain't got no bottom, it ain't."
"You bet we'll come back," asserted Cat. "Won't we, fellows?"
"You bet we will!" echoed the other two.
A gratified smile crossed the keeper's face.
"Say, Cap'n Buffum," suggested Legs, "how about running up and spending a week-
