CHAPTER XVII
"OUR JACK'S COME HOME TO-DAY"
"The old skipper was walking in the garden, glass in hand. I knew I should find him up, though it was soon after sunrise. No fear of his being in bed and the sun up. ' Hallo ! Carryall,' he said, ' I was just thinking about you; thought I could make out the Florentia yesterday. What sort of a voyage have you had, and what luck among the right whales?'
" 'Pretty fair. Eather longer out than I expected, but didn't do badly after all; had some trading among the islands ; cocoa-nut oil has gone up, and the copra I got will pay handsomely.'
"' That's good news,' he said; 'and look here, Carryall, my boy, I've been thinking lately that a very paying business might be put together by going in regularly for island trading. They're ready and willing to take our goods, and their raw material oil, copra, fruit, ever so many things that they are only too glad to sell would pay a handsome percentage on the outlay. What is wanted is a partner here with capital, a few ships to go regularly round the islands, and a manager who knows the language and understands the natives. If I were a little younger, by Jove ! I'd go into it myself. You'll stay and break- fast with us of course. We're not late people. By the by you haven't heard of my boy in your travels, have you?'
