order, the captain was ready for visitors--those
he wanted. Those he did not want--the riffraff of the ship-yard and the
loungers about the taverns--he told politely to stay away; and as the
land was Government property and his will supreme, he was obeyed.

Little Ellen had been the first guest, and by special invitation.

"All ready, Miss Jane, for you and the doctor and the Pond Lily; bring
her down any time. That's what kind o' makes it lonely lyin' shut up
with the men. We ain't got no flowers bloomin' 'round, and the sand
gits purty white and blank-lookin' sometimes. Bring her down, you and
the doctor; she's better'n a pot full o' daisies."

The doctor, thus commanded, brought her over in his gig, Jane, beside
him, holding the child in her lap. And Archie helped them out, lifting
his good mother in his arms clear of the wheel, skirts and all--the
crew standing about looking on. Some of them knew Jane and came in for
a hearty handshake, and all of them knew the doctor. There was hardly a
man among them whose cabin he had not visited--not once, but dozens of
times.

With her fair cheeks, golden curls, and spotless frock, the child,
among those big men, some in their long hip boots and rough reefing
jackets, looked like some fairy that had come in with the morning mist
and who might be off on the next breeze.

Archie had her hugged close to his breast and had started in to show
her the cot where he slept, the kitchen where he was to cook, and the
peg in the hall where he hung his sou'wester and tarpaulins--every
surfman had his peg, order being imperative with Captain Nat--when that
old sea-dog caught the child out of the young fellow's arms and placed
her feet on the sand.

"No, Cobden,"--that was another peculiarity of the captain's,--every
man went by his last name, and he had begun with Archie to show the men
he meant it. "No, that little posy is mine for to-day. Come along, you
rosebud; I'm goin' to show you the biggest boat you ever saw, and a gun
on wheels; and I've got a lot o' shells the men has been pickin' up for
ye. Oh, but you're goin' to have a beautiful time, lassie!"

The child looked up in the captain's face, and her wee hand tightened
around his rough stubs of fingers. Archie then turned to Jane and with
Tod's help the three made a tour of the house, the doctor following,
inspecting the captain's own room with its desk and papers, the kitchen
with all its appointments, the outhouse for wood an