el to wear long pants?"

Joel, holding his anger in check, said slowly: "We've done well. Close on
eight hundred barrel aboard."

Mark wagged his head in solemn reproof. "Joey, Joey, you've been fiddling
away your time. I can see that!"

Over his brother's shoulder, Joel saw the grinning face of big Jim Finch,
and his eyes hardened. He said quietly: "If that's your tone, Mark,
you'll call back your boat and go ashore."

A flame surged across Mark's cheek; and he took one swift, terrible step
toward his brother. But Joel did not give ground; and after a moment in
which their eyes clashed like swords, Mark relaxed, and laughed and bowed
low.

"I was wrong, grievously wrong, Captain Shore," he said sonorously. "I
neglected the respect due your office. Your high office, sir. I thank you
for reminding me of the--the proprieties, Captain." And he added, in a
different tone, "Now will you not invite me aft on your ship, sir?"

Joel hesitated for a bare instant, caught by a vague foreboding that he
could not explain. But in the end he nodded, as though in answer to the
unspoken question in his thoughts. "Will you come down into the cabin,
Mark?" he invited quietly. "I've much to ask you; and you must have many
things to tell."

Mark nodded. "I will come," he said; and his eyes lighted suddenly, and
he dropped a hand on Joel's shoulder. "Aye, Joel," he said softly, into
his brother's ear, as they went aft together. "Aye, I've much to tell.
Many things and marvelous. Matters you'd scarce credit, Joel." Joel
looked at him quickly, and Mark nodded. "True they are, Joel," he cried
exultantly. "Marvelous--and true as good, red gold."

At the tone, and the eager light in his brother's eyes, Joel's slow
pulses quickened, but he said nothing. At the top of the cabin companion,
he stepped aside to let Mark descend first; and Mark went down the steep
and awkward stair with the easy, sliding gait of a great cat. Joel,
behind him, could see the muscles stir and swell upon his shoulders. In
the cabin, Mark halted abruptly, and looked about, and exclaimed: "You've
changed things, Joel. I'd not know the ship."

The door into Priscilla's cabin, across the stern, was open. Priss had
finished that matter of the ribbon, and was watering her flowers,
kneeling on the bench, when she heard Mark's voice, and knew it. And she
cried, in surprise and joy: "Mark! Oh--Mark!" And she ran to the door,
and stood there, framed for Mark's eyes against