MISS DUNHAM’'S RETURN. III

her the news of this charter,’ Ben said to himself, when
the merchant left him, promising to send a tug to convey
the brig to the dock where she was to take in the cargo ;
“for if they refuse to give me command, thinking I have
not already done enough to prove my worthiness, it seems
as if this trade should clinch the business. However, I’ll
go ahead as if I really was the captain, and if I don’t
continue in the berth it won’t be either Miss Dunham’s
fault or my own.”

Twenty-four hours later the brig was in the hands of
the stevedores, and Ben had already ordered such a supply
of provisions as he thought would suffice for the voyage
across the ocean.

He did not attempt to victual the ship in what he
considered a proper manner, but with due reference to
economy, knowing full well how this would count in the
eyes of the owners, and, in fact, concluded so much busi-
ness with nothing but his power of attorney to prove his
authority, that it would have been an awkward matter,
to say the least, for the agents to have appointed another
captain of the vessel.

On the afternoon of the third day after Miss Dunham’s
departure, Ben was in the cabin checking off the list
of stores, when he was both surprised and delighted to see
first his father, and then the young girl, enter.

“You see I have brought the master of the Sorts-
man with me, Captain Thompson,” Miss Dunham cried,
cheerily, laying particular emphasis on Ben’s title, and
springing quickly to his feet, he said, interrogatively :