"Why can't we?" asked Jimmy, in deep disappointment.
"Because," said Skipper Ed seriously, "I'm not free to consent."
"Why not? Yes, you are!" coaxed Bobby. "Please do."
"I'd like to," said Skipper Ed. "Yes, I'd like to; but you see I've got a partner, and one partner can't go ahead and do things unless the other partner agrees. At any rate he shouldn't. Do you agree, Partner?"
The boys gave a whoop of joy.
"Then you consent, Partner?" and Skipper Ed's eyes twinkled humorously.
"Of course I do, Partner!" exclaimed Jimmy. "It's what I've wanted to do right along."
"Then everything is arranged," said Skipper Ed. "Abel says there are plenty of fish for all of us around Itigailit Island. Perhaps, then, we'd better go home, Partner, and put things in shipshape for an early start in the morning."
And so they parted in high glee, Bobby to the cabin to break the good news to Mrs. Abel, and Skipper Ed down the trail toward his own cabin, with Jimmy at his heels.