“You are promoted for bravery,” said the Pearl of great price; “I appoint you my friend for life.”
He gave me his hand, and I looked up at him with amusement.
“Do you accept the appointment?”
“Yes, sir,” I answered, for I was delighted with my new acquaintance.
“Good!” said he, “and I promise, boy, that H. M. Pearl, Esquire, will never bring the blush of shame to your cheek, and I am yours truly, now an' forever—one an' inseparable.” In a moment he added: “I ain't pretty, but I can be decent, you see.”
I enjoyed him more than the dinner, and we made a wonderful day of it. After an hour's rest we set out again, and near three o'clock landed at the little village of Mill Pond, some ten miles away. From the shore I could see on a store-front the sign
SAM WEATHERBY'S EMPORIUM
A man stood on the steps of the emporium looking at us.
“Well, Pearl, is that you?” he exclaimed as we drew near.
“It's me, but it ain't Pearl,” my friend answered.