his daughter once, but
she isn't now. Any man who would treat a gal the way this man treated
that beautiful creature who tumbled into the cabin of the 'Eb and Flo'
has no right to call her his daughter, so thar."

"What fool-talk is this?" Randall impatiently asked. "I know now that
it was my daughter you had on board your boat. What you think about my
actions doesn't worry me in the least. Your quibbling is childish and
unbecoming to a man of your age. You will change your tune, though,
let me tell you that, when you are called upon to face the charge of
being involved in my daughter's wild escapade."

"Go ahead, Mister, go ahead. Whenever ye want me, jist sing out."

"Oh, I shall sing out, all right. You needn't think I'm bluffing.
When I undertake a thing I carry it through."

"An' I s'pose ye'll carry through the persecution of that gal ye call
yer daughter?"

"What do you mean?"

"Ye'll force her to marry that Lord's son, the feller with the wobbly
knees an' brainless head?"

"Yes, I am determined that she shall marry Lord Donaster's son. My
mind is made up to that, and nothing can change it."

"But ye haven't got yer daughter yit."

"Oh, that's merely a matter of time. She may escape me for a while,
but I shall get her sooner or later."

"But s'pose somebody else gits her first?"

"You mean young Hampton?" Randall somewhat anxiously asked.

"I sartinly do. He's hot on her trail, an' it looks to me as if
they're mighty fond of each other. Mebbe they're off now to be hitched
up. Ye kin never tell what notions young people'll take."

"Then I'll tear them apart," Randall angrily declared. "My daughter
shall never remain the wife of an ignorant country clown. But I don't
believe she would go that far. No doubt she is hiding somewhere. Have
you any idea where that might be?"

"I don't believe she's on board the 'Eb an' Flo' this time. Ye'll have
to hunt elsewhere."

"And I shall. I've lost too much time already, and I should be in the
city by now. I have an important business engagement there. Confound
it all!"

Without another word he turned and strode out of the house, slamming
the front door after him. There was silence in the room for a brief
space, broken at last by the captain's chuckle of amusement.

"Ho, ho," he laughed, "that feller got a dose to-night, didn't he?
What d'ye say, Martha? Got a big hand-out fer me now?"

"No, Sam'l," was the quiet reply. "I really can