." He gazed
doubtfully at the birds, as though they might possibly be
deteriorating in the effeminacies of shore life.

"I always was a great hand with pets of all kinds," said the lady,
modestly. "Animals seem to take to me sort of naturally. I hear you
have long followed the sea, Cap'n Sproul--I believe that's the name,
Cap'n Sproul?"

"Sproul it is, ma'am--Aaron for fore-riggin'. Them as said I follered
the sea was nearer than shore-folks us'ly be. Took my dunnage aboard
at fourteen, master at twenty-four, keel-hauled by rheumatiz at
fifty-six--wouldn't be here if it wasn't for that. I ain't stuck on
a penny-flippin' job of this sort."

"I should think it would be very pleasant after all the storms and
the tossings. And yet the sea--the sea, the glorious sea--has always
had a great fascination for me--even though I've never seen it."

"Nev--nev--never seen salt water!" This amazedly.

"Never." This sadly. "I've been kept--I've stayed very closely at
my home. Being a single lady, I've had no one to talk to me or take
me about. I have read books about the ocean, but I've never had any
chance to hear a real and truly mariner tell about the wonderful waste
of waters and describe foreign countries. I suppose you have been
'way, 'way out to sea, Cap'n Sproul--across the ocean, I mean."

She had timidly edged up and taken one of the chairs on the porch,
gazing about her at the curios.

"Well, ma'am," remarked the Cap'n, dryly, as he seated himself in
another chair, "I've waded across a cove wunst or twice at low water."

"I should love so to hear a mariner talk of his adventures. I have
never had much chance to talk with any man--I mean any sailor. I have
been kept--I mean I have stayed very closely at home all my life."

"It broadens a man, it sartain does, to travel," said the skipper,
furtively slipping a sliver of tobacco into his cheek and clearing
his throat preparatory to yarning a bit. The frank admiration and
trustful innocence in the eyes of the pretty woman touched him.

"I suppose you have been out at sea in some awful storms, Cap'n. I
often think of the sailormen at sea when the snow beats against the
window and the winds howl around the corner."

"The wu'st blow I ever remember," began the skipper, leaning back
and hooking his brown hands behind his head like a basket, "was my
second trip to Bonis Airis--general cargo out, to fetch back hides.
It was that trip we found the shark that had starved t