"I judge you paid him something?" said the captain questioningly.
"Paid him half the price. It took every cent I had. That's why I landed here without a penny. And that's why I need money so bad. Oh! I must get it somehow. I must! I must!"
"Now, don't you worry about this," said the kindly oysterman. "We can fix it up for you somehow."
But Alec refused to be comforted.
CHAPTER VIII ALEC'S FIRST LESSON IN OYSTER-CULTURE
Morning found Alec refreshed in body, but not entirely relieved in mind. He had loved his father dearly, and the thought that his father's body lay out in the cold, bleak cemetery without even a headstone to mark his resting-place, troubled Alec sorely. The very least he could do in memory of his father, it seemed to Alec, was to erect a marker above the grave.
To do this, he had gotten together all the money he could, and given it to a Central City monument dealer with the understanding that the latter was to set up the stone Alec selected and Alec was to pay the balance due on the stone as soon as he found work and could earn the money. But like many another man, this one had taken advantage of youth. He had pocketed the money without carrying out his part of the bargain. That was bad enough. But Alec now felt no certainty that the stone would be erected after he had paid for it in full; and that was worse still. So it was a very much troubled and worried lad that tumbled out of Alec's bunk when Dick arrived to start breakfast.
It was fortunate for Alec that he possessed such a helpful disposition. He found a number of things to do for the cook. He stirred up the fire, got water for the coffee, punched holes in the condensed milk can, cut the bread, and made himself generally useful; and in work he found relief from his troubles. He could not keep his mind on his work and his troubles at the same time; and he had to keep it on his work.