“Ah, Tom!” exclaimed the latter, as the young trader entered. “Any more fish to-day?”
“No, sir!” was the reply. “I intend to take a short sail up the coast; so I thought I would stop and inquire if you want any eggs, butter, or chickens!”
“Yes, we want all we can get,” answered the grocer. “We pay the highest market prices.”
Tom, without thinking to inquire what the “highest market prices” for each particular article were, left the store, and in a few moments stood in the presence of his father, whom he asked for ten dollars, to enable him to carry out his new project. The money was duly paid, and the young trader, remembering his previous experience, carefully counted it twice before he gave a receipt, which was worded like the one he had given his father on a former occasion. Tom then set out for the home of the fisher-boy, and, as before, found him getting ready to begin his day’s work. He, however, at once abandoned the idea, when Tom offered to give him a dollar, if he would assist him in taking the Mystery on a short voyage up the bay.
“I’m not going to speculate in fish any more,” said he. “It doesn’t pay. I’m going to show you, now, how to make money.”
In half an hour the Mystery lay at the wharf in front of the mansion, with her sails hoisted, all ready for the start. In the forward part of the boat were several boxes, baskets, and pails, in which the young trader intended to bring home the articles he purchased; and Captain Newcombe, as he now called himself, stood on the wharf with his hands in his pockets, waiting for his first mate Bob, who had gone to the house after some provisions that were necessary for the trip. In a few moments the fisher-boy made his appearance, and when the provisions had been carefully stowed away, the painter was cast off, the captain took his stand in the stern-sheets, which he called his quarter-deck, Bob seated himself at the helm, and the Mystery began her first trading voyage.
CHAPTER VIII.
TOM MAKES NEW BARGAINS.
