early enough to be
of use to me, which was a mercy.

"It was a hard lesson for me," he added, reflectively; "but I managed to
come out of it without lettin' it bitter my whole life. I don't mind so
much Caroline's bein' down on me. She'll know better some day, I hope;
and if she don't--well, I'm only a side-issue in her life, anyhow, hove
in by accident, like the section of dog collar in the sassage. But I do
hope her learnin' by experience won't come too late to save her from ...
what she'll be awful sorry for by and by."

"It must," declared the lawyer, with decision. "You must see to it,
Captain Warren. You are her guardian. She is absolutely under your
charge. She can do nothing of importance unless you consent."

"Yup. That's so--for one more year; just one, remember! Then she'll
be of age, and I can't say 'Boo!' And her share of 'Bije's money'll
be hers, too. And don't you believe that that fact has slipped Sister
Dunn's memory. I ain't on deck to head her off now; if she puts Malcolm
up to gettin' Caroline to give her word, and Caroline gives it--well,
I know my niece. She's honorable, and she'll stick to her promise if it
runs her on the rocks. And Her Majesty Dunn knows that, too. Therefore,
the cat bein' away, she cal'lates now's the time to make sure of the
cheese."

"But the cat can come back. The song says it did, you know."

"Um-hm. And got another kick, I shouldn't wonder. However, my claws'll
stay sharp for a year or thereabouts, and, if it comes to a shindy,
there'll be some tall scratchin' afore I climb a tree. Keep a weather
eye on what goes on, won't you?"

"I will. You can depend on me."

"I do. And say! for goodness' sakes put me out of my misery regardin'
that rock or lighthouse on 'Bije's chart, soon's ever you settle which
it is."

"Certainly! And, remember, don't worry. It may be a lighthouse, or
nothing at all. At all events, I'll report very soon."

CHAPTER XVI

But, in spite of his promise, Sylvester did not report during the
following week or the next. Meanwhile, his client tried his best to
keep the new mystery from troubling his thoughts, and succeeded only
partially. The captain's days and evenings were quiet and monotonous. He
borrowed a book or two from Mrs. Hepton's meager library, read, walked
a good deal, generally along the water front, and wrote daily letters to
Miss Baker. He and Pearson were together for at least a portion of each
day. The author, fighting