he ought ter be grubbin' clams? Go and dig a hole
some'er's and cover him up head and ears,--and dig
it quick, too, and I'll lend ye a shovel."

"Well, but, Captain Joe,"--protested Marrows.

"Don't you 'well' me. Well, nothin'. You're
bad as him. Go and dig a hole and BOTH on ye git
in it!"--and he pushed through the crowd on his
way to his house, I close at his heels.

The wife, who but that moment had heard the glad
news of the rescue from the lips of a deck hand, now
hurried after the captain and laid her hand on his
arm. Her eyes were red from weeping; strands of
gray hair strayed over her forehead and cheeks; her
lips were tightly drawn; the anxiety of the last few
hours had left its mark.

"Don't go, Captain Joe, till I kin speak to ye,"
she pleaded, in a trembling voice,--speaking through
fingers pressed close to her lips.

"No,--I don't want to hear nothin'. She's all
right, I tell ye,--tighter 'n a drum and not a drop
of water in her. Got some of my men aboard and
we'll unload her to-morrow. You go home, old
woman; you needn't worry."

"Yes, but you must listen,--PLEASE listen."