sight o' the ship, and thet baby ez can't swim a stroke sails
ashore, sound asleep, with the waves for a baby-jumper."

North, who was half relieved, yet half awkwardly disappointed at
not seeing Bessy, ventured to ask how the child was doing.

"She'll do all right now," said a frank voice above, and, looking
up, North discerned the round arms, blue eyes, and white teeth of
the daughter at the window. "She's all hunky, and has an appetite--
ef she hezn't got her 'nat'ral nourishment.' Come, Dad! heave
ahead, and tell the stranger what you and me allow we'll do, and
don't stand there swappin' lies with him."

"Weel," said Trinidad Joe, dejectedly, "Bess allows she can rar
that baby and do justice to it. And I don't say--though I'm her
father--that she can't. But when Bess wants anything she wants it
all, clean down; no half-ways nor leavin's for her."

"That's me! go on, Dad--you're chippin' in the same notch every
time," said Miss Robinson, with cheerful directness.

"Well, we agree to put the job up this way. We'll take the child
and you'll give us a paper or writin' makin' over all your right
and title. How's that?"

Without knowing exactly why he did, Mr. North objected decidedly.

"Do you think we won't take good care of it?" asked Miss Bessy,
sharply.