She had followed him up the dock and the two
stood apart from the crowd.

"Well, what is it?"

"I want to thank ye,--and I want--"

"No, you don't want to thank nothin'. She's all
right, I tell ye."

She had tight hold of his arm now and was
looking up into his face, all her gratitude in her
eyes.

"But I do,--I must,--please listen. You've
helped us so. It's all we have. If we'd lost the sloop
I'd 'a' give up."

The captain's rough, hard hand went out and
caught the woman's thin fingers. A peculiar cadence
came into his voice.

"All ye have? Do you think I don't know it?
That's why I was under her bowsprit."




"AGAINST ORDERS"