All the Brothers Were Valiant

sea. At thirty-four, he owned his first ship. She was old, and cranky, and no more seaworthy than a log; but she earned him more than four hundred thousand dollars, net, befor

shoreward end of the pier, he could look down upon their decks, and watch the casks come out, so fat with oil, and the stores go aboard for each cruise. The cries of the men and the wheeling gulls, the rattle of the blocks and gear, and the rich smell of

Asa Worthen's big desk, with a six-foot model of his old ship atop it, between the forward windows. Beside the desk stood that contrivance known to the whalemen as a "woman's tub"; a cask, sawed chair-fashion, with a

ine had snarled his left leg and whipped away a gout of muscle; and this leg was now shorter than its fellow, so that

ree slices, and crumbled them and stuffed them into the bowl of his black pipe. Asa watched the process, and he watched Joel, puffing without comment. There was some

bers are good and her tackle is strong. She's a lucky ship. The oil swims after her across the broad sea, and begs to be

nter. But Joel's heart was pounding so, at the words of the older man, that he took no heed. He lis

he mate of her? Did h

lay. He should have filled those last casks. 'Tis in them the profit lies." He shook his head sorrowfully. "No, Jim Finch will not do. He is a good man--under another man. But he has not

said this morning that for three weeks he h

eeks he hunted, when one was plenty. If Mark Shore lived, and wished to find his ship again

h has my thanks for his search; and I'm no min

man, and a very loyal one. As long as he is another's man, he is content. But he has

fter a little he asked: "Sir, what

ed volubility fell away from him. He lifted his hands.

opinion?" J

air of one who delivers judgment. "Islanders, 'tis like," he said. "There'

greed. "But there would have

" said Asa. "Walked away al

trac

fted in his chair. "Seems like I'd heard you and Mark w

tle man with bleak eye

he forgot you was

d. "You think it

his desk, watching his fo

head. "But it sticks in me that Mark was no man to

about the Nathan Ross? Ready for sea, come Tuesday. I'm not one to pre

her," he said, "we'll work the Gilberts first of al

objection," he agreed. "Matter of fact, that's the best thing to do. Mar

take her, sir," he said

bilantly on his desk.

ith an ample allowance to spare. She is a department store of the seas; for she works with iron and wood, with steel and bone, with fire and water and rope and sail. All these things she must have, and many more. And the lists of a whaleship's stores are long and long, and take much checking. When

at cheeks. "No, sir," he declared. "It's yours, and welcome.

hat Finch was too amiable. But he said no more, and Finch wen

hannel with the tide. The wheeling gulls dropped, one by one, to the water; or they lurched off to some quiet cove to spend the night. Their harsh cries came less frequently, were less persistent. The wind had swung around, and it was fetchin

ntrivance called a "woman's tub"; and Asa, at sight of it, seemed to be minded of something. He stopped, and checked Joel, and with eyes twinklin

ice was steady enough when he replied. "It's a kind offer,

nting it?" Asa

id Joel quietl