"No," returned the Italian, "I do it." But a look of surprise crossed his face. What had come over the millionaire's son? Percy spent the rest of the forenoon on the ledges. At noon he came back to the cabin. He had steeled himself for the task before him, and he was not the fellow to do things half-way. The John P. Whittington in him was coming out. Everybody else was in camp when he stepped inside. Lane did not look at him at all. Spurling and Stevens nodded coolly. Percy drew a long breath and launched at once into the brief speech he had spent the last three hours dreading. "Fellows," he stammered, "I've been pretty rotten to all of you. There's no need of wasting any more words about that. Last night I took one of the boats and started to row up to Isle au Haut. But I got to thinking matters over out there on the water, and it changed my mind about a lot of things. So I came back. Jim, I want to apologize to you for what I said last night. I deserved what you gave me, and it's done me good. I want to stay here with you for the rest of the summer--if you're willing. I'll try to do my full share of the work. You can send me off the first time I shirk." He ceased and awaited the verdict, looking eagerly from one to the other. There was a moment of silence. Surprise was written large on the faces of the three Academy men. Then Spurling stepped forward and held out his hand. "Percy," said he, with a break in his voice, "I've always thought you had the right stuff in you, if you'd only give yourself half a chance. For one, I'll be more than pleased to have you stop. What do you say, boys?" He glanced toward Lane and Stevens. "Sure!" exclaimed Lane, heartily; and Stevens seconded him. The boys shook hands all round; and they sat down to the table with good appetites. Everybody enjoyed the meal. "Boys," said Jim as they got up at its close, "this is the best dinner we've had since we came out here." Percy's heart warmed toward the speaker. He knew that it was not the food alone that made Jim say what he did. It had been Percy's habit to smoke three or four cigarettes during the half-hour of rest all were accustomed to take after the noon meal. He went, as usual, to his suit-case, and this time took out, not merely one package, but all he had, including his sack of loose tobacco and two books of wrappers. "Got a good fire, Filippo?" he inquired, approaching the stove. A burst of flame answered him as he lifted the cover. In went the whole handful. He watched it burn for a moment before dropping the lid. "I'm done with you for good," he said. As Lane and Spurling started for the _Barracouta_ to dress the fifteen hundred pounds of hake they had taken off the trawls that morning Percy joined them, clad in oilskins. "Jim," he petitioned, "I want you to teach me how to split fish." "Do you mean it, Percy?" asked Spurling.