if I could I'd go out
when the morning comes across that water. I've watched it many a time
and thought what a thing it would be to pass out through that great
white glory to whatever was waiting beyant, on a sea that ain't mapped
out on any airthly chart. I think, Mistress Blythe, that I'd find lost
Margaret there."

Captain Jim had often talked to Anne of lost Margaret since he had told
her the old story. His love for her trembled in every tone--that love
that had never grown faint or forgetful.

"Anyway, I hope when my time comes I'll go quick and easy. I don't
think I'm a coward, Mistress Blythe--I've looked an ugly death in the
face more than once without blenching. But the thought of a lingering
death does give me a queer, sick feeling of horror."

"Don't talk about leaving us, dear, DEAR Captain, Jim," pleaded Anne,
in a choked voice, patting the old brown hand, once so strong, but now
grown very feeble. "What would we do without you?"

Captain Jim smiled beautifully.

"Oh, you'd get along nicely--nicely--but you wouldn't forget the old
man altogether, Mistress Blythe--no, I don't think you'll ever quite
forget him. The race of Joseph always remembers one another. But
it'll be a memory that won't hurt--I like to think that my memory won't
hurt my friends--it'll always be kind of pleasant to them, I hope and
believe. It won't be very long now before lost Margaret calls me, for
the last time. I'll be all ready to answer. I jest spoke of this
because there's a little favor I want to ask you. Here's this poor old
Matey of mine"--Captain Jim reached out a hand and poked the big, warm,
velvety, golden ball on the sofa. The First Mate uncoiled himself like
a spring with a nice, throaty, comfortable sound, half purr, half meow,
stretched his paws in air, turned over and coiled himself up again.
"HE'll miss me when I start on the V'yage. I can't bear to think of
leaving the poor critter to starve, like he was left before. If
anything happens to me will you give Matey a bite and a corner,
Mistress Blythe?"

"Indeed I will."

"Then that is all I had on my mind. Your Little Jem is to have the few
curious things I picked up--I've seen to that. And now I don't like to
see tears in those pretty eyes, Mistress Blythe. I'll mebbe hang on
for quite a spell yet. I heard you reading a piece of poetry one day
last winter--one of Tennyson's pieces. I'd sorter like to hear it
again, if you could recite it f