“Oh, come, skipper!” Sir Archibald laughed.
Bill o’ Burnt Bay roared like the lusty sea-dog he was.
“I’ve good reason for wishing you to go cautiously,” said Sir Archibald, gravely.
Bill looked up with interest.
“You’ve settled at Ruddy Cove, skipper?”
“Ay, sir,” Bill answered. “I moved the wife t’ Ruddy Cove when I undertook t’ build the Venture.”
“I’m thinking of sending Archie down to spend the summer,” said Sir Archibald.
Bill o’ Burnt Bay beamed largely and delightedly.
“Do you think,” Sir Archibald went on, with a little grin, “that Mrs. Skipper William would care to take him in?”
“Care?” Skipper Bill exclaimed. “Why, sir, ’twould be as good as takin’ her a stick o’ peppermint.”