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of the least exposed islands； where they passed the night。 Shortly after our
own arrival they appeared off Rivermouth； much to the joy of their friends；
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in two shattered； dismasted boats。
The excitement over； I was in a forlorn state； physically and mentally。
Captain Nutter put me to bed between hot blankets； and sent Kitty Collins
for the doctor。 I was wandering in my mind； and fancied myself still on
Sandpeep Island： now we were building our brick…stove to cook the
chowder； and； in my delirium； I laughed aloud and shouted to my
comrades； now the sky darkened； and the squall struck the island： now I
gave orders to Wallace how to manage the boat； and now I cried because
the rain was pouring in on me through the holes in the tent。 Towards
evening a high fever set in； and it was many days before my grandfather
deemed it prudent to tell me that the Dolphin had been found； floating keel
upwards； four miles southeast of Mackerel Reef。
Poor little Binny Wallace！ How strange it seemed； when I went to
school again； to see that empty seat in the fifth row！ How gloomy the
playground was； lacking the sunshine of his gentle； sensitive face！ One
day a folded sheet slipped from my algebra； it was the last note he ever
wrote me。 I couldn't read it for the tears。
What a pang shot across my heart the afternoon it was whispered
through the town that a body had been washed ashore at Grave Point…the
place where we bathed。 We bathed there no more！ How well I remember
the funeral； and what a piteous sight it was afterwards to see his familiar
name on a small headstone in the Old South Burying Ground！
Poor little Binny Wallace！ Always the same to me。 The rest of us have
grown up into hard； worldly men； fighting the fight of life； but you are
forever young； and gentle； and pure； a part of my own childhood that time
cannot wither； always a little boy； always poor little Binny Wallace！
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The Story of a Bad Boy
CHAPTER Fifteen
An Old Acquaintance Turns Up
A year had stolen by since the death of Binny Wallace…a year of which
I have nothing important to record。
The loss of our little playmate threw a shadow over our young lives for
many and many a month。 The Dolphin rose and fell with the tide at the
foot of the slippery steps； unused； the rest of the summer。 At the close of
November we hauled her sadly into the boat…house for the winter； but
when spring came round we launched the Dolphin again； and often went
down to the wharf and looked at her lying in the tangled eel…grass； without
much inclination to take a row。 The associations connected with the boat
were too painful as yet； but time； which wears the sharp edge from
everything； softened this feeling； and one afternoon we brought out the
cobwebbed oars。
The ice once broken； brief trips along the wharves…we seldom cared to
go out into the river now…became one of our chief amusements。
Meanwhile Gypsy was not forgotten。 Every clear morning I was in the
saddle before breakfast； and there are few roads or lanes within ten miles
of Rivermouth that have not borne the print of her vagrant hoof。
I studied like a good fellow this quarter； carrying off a couple of first
prizes。 The Captain expressed his gratification by presenting me with a
new silver dollar。 If a dollar in his eyes was smaller than a cart…wheel； it
wasn't so very much smaller。 I redeemed my pencil…case from the treasurer
of the Centipedes； and felt that I was getting on in the world。
It was at this time I was greatly cast down by a letter from my father
saying that he should be unable to visit Rivermouth until the following
year。 With that letter came another to Captain Nutter； which he did not
read aloud to the family； as usual。 It was on business； he said； folding it up
in his wallet。 He received several of these business letters from time to
time； and I noticed that they always made him silent and moody。
The fact is； my father's banking…house was not thriving。 The unlooked…
for failure of a firm largely indebted to him had crippled 〃the house。〃
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When the Captain imparted this information to me I didn't trouble myself
over the matter。 I supposed…if I supposed anything…that all grown…up
people had more or less money； when they wanted it。 Whether they
inherited it； or whether government supplied them； was not clear to me。 A
loose idea that my father had a private gold…mine somewhere or other
relieved me of all uneasiness。
I was not far from right。 Every man has within himself a gold…mine
whose riches are limited only by his own industry。 It is true； it sometimes
happens that industry does not avail； if a man lacks that something which；
for want of a better name； we call Luck。 My father was a person of
untiring energy and ability； but he had no luck。 To use a Rivermouth
saying； he was always catching sculpins when everyone else with the same
bait was catching mackerel。
It was more than two years since I had seen my parents。 I felt that I
could not bear a longer separation。 Every letter from New Orleans…we got
two or three a month…gave me a fit of homesickness； and when it was
definitely settled that my father and mother were to remain in the South
another twelvemonth； I resolved to go to them。
Since Binny Wallace's death； Pepper Whitcomb had been my fidus
Achates； we occupied desks near each other at school； and were always
together in play hours。 We rigged a twine telegraph from his garret
window to the scuttle of the Nutter House； and sent messages to each other
in a match…box。 We shared our pocket…money and our secrets…those
amazing secrets which boys have。 We met in lonely places by stealth； and
parted like conspirators； we couldn't buy a jackknife or build a kite
without throwing an air of mystery and guilt over the transaction。
I naturally hastened to lay my New Orleans project before Pepper
Whitcomb； having dragged him for that purpose to a secluded spot in the
dark pine woods outside the town。 Pepper listened to me with a gravity
which he will not be able to surpass when he becomes Chief Justice； and
strongly advised me to go。
〃The summer vacation；〃 said Pepper； 〃lasts six weeks； that will give
you a fortnight to spend in New Orleans； allowing two weeks each way for
the journey。〃
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I wrung his hand and begged him to accompany me； offering to defray
all the expenses。 I wasn't anything if I wasn't princely in those days。 After
considerable urging； he consented to go on terms so liberal。 The whole
thing was arranged； there was nothing to do now but to advise Captain
Nutter of my plan； which I did the next day。
The possibility that he might oppose the tour never entered my head。 I
was therefore totally unprepared for the vigorous negative which met my
proposal。 I was deeply mortified； moreover； for there was Pepper
Whitcomb on the wharf； at the foot of the street； waiting for me to come
and let him know what day we were to start。
〃Go to New Orleans？ Go to Jericho I〃 exclaimed Captain Nutter。
〃You'd look pretty； you two； philandering off； like the babes in the wood；
twenty…five hundred miles； 'with all the world before…you where to
choose！'〃
And the Captain's features； which had worn an indignant air as he
began the sentence； relaxed into a broad smile。 Whether it was at the
felicity of his own quotation； or at t