e Daniel, but with
no disrespect to the other gent--why, blister my foretop, if it ain't
the guvnor!"

And the old fellow began to shout and to wave his arms and to throw
ropes about as though he were smitten with lunacy.

CHAPTER XXVII.

I FALL TO WONDERING.

I had sprung up the ladder, which was always at the side of the _Celsis_,
before Dan had gathered his scattered wits to remember that it was
there. It was worth much to watch that honest fellow as he gripped my
hand in his two great paws: and then let it go to walk away, and survey
me at a distance; or drew nearer again, and seemed to wish to give me a
great hug as a bear hugs its cub. But I cut him short with a gesture,
and asked him if Roderick and Mary were aboard.

"They're down below, as I'm alive, and the hands is ashore, but they'll
come aboard for this, drunk or sober. Thunder! if I was ten years
younger--but there, I ain't, and you'll be waking 'em; do you see,
they're resting after victuals down in the saloon. Shall I tell 'em as
you've called in passing like? Lord, I can hardly see out of my eyes
for looking at you, sir."

Poor old Dan did not quite know what he was doing. I left him in the
midst of his strange talk, and walked softly down the companion way to
the door of the saloon, and I opened it and stood, I doubt not, before
them as one come from the dead. Mary, whose childish face looked very
drawn, was seated before a book, open upon the table, her head resting
upon her hands, and a strange expression of melancholy in her great
dark eyes. But Roderick lay upon a sofa-bunk, and was fast asleep, with
the novel which he had been reading lying crumpled upon the floor.

I had opened the door so gently that neither of them moved as I entered
the room. It was to me the best moment of my life to be looking again
upon them, and I waited for one minute till Mary raised her head, and
our eyes met. Then I bent over the cabin table and kissed her, and I
felt her clinging to me, and though she never spoke, her eyes were wet
with hot tears; and when she smiled through them, it was as a glimpse
of bright sunlight shining through a rain-shower. In another moment
there was nothing but the expression of a great childish joy on her
face, and the old Mary spoke.

"Mark, I can't believe it," she said, holding me close lest I might go
away again, "and I always guessed you'd come."

But Roderick awoke with a yawn, and when he saw me he rubbed his eyes