“Perhaps you will be back soon!” Indeed! What did his father mean by that? Well, they would have to wait a long time before seeing him again. Upon that point he was determined. No matter what happened, he would not return home very soon. He would stick it out in the face of every obstacle and difficulty that might block his path. He would show them that he could make good if he but had the opportunity and the opportunity had come at last. By that time the ship was well down the harbor, so he sought his cabin to unpack his baggage. Upon entering he found a man several years his senior busily engaged straightening out his own effects. “My name is Rogers,” said the stranger, extending his hand. “I guess we share this place.” “Glad to know you. My name is Jones.” “Well, as we are going to bunk together for a while I suppose we might as well toss a coin for the berths.” So saying, Rogers fished a dime out of his pocket. “What will it be?” he asked. “I’ll take heads,” David replied. Rogers tossed the coin into the air. “Tails, you lose, Jones,” he said. “So I will take the lower. Anyway, you are younger and more spry than I am, so you will not mind climbing into the upper.” The conversation continued while they unpacked their luggage and the older man gave David a good deal of information, having noticed that he had not been to sea before. David rather liked Rogers and felt that this was the beginning of a pleasant friendship. * * * * * Dinner in the Jones household was a quiet, solemn affair that night. “Wellman played his part to perfection,” the father said finally. “Too well, in fact. For a while I was afraid David would agree with me that he should be discharged. But I am proud of the stand he took. He acted just as I would have had him do.” “Are you sure he does not suspect the plan was pre-arranged?” “Yes, he thought Wellman was serious in calling him down. He was going from bad to worse--through no fault of his own, I will admit. He tried hard to make good but could not; and he never will until he forgets those ideas with which his head is crammed. Only then will he come back to earth and buckle down to his job.” “Do you think he will be back soon?” “Yes, I think so. When he sees what he is compelled to endure in Brazil he will become disillusioned in short order. I know what I am talking about and so I think a short time of it will be all he wants. Three months, at most.”