It's the nature of women to wait--when they
love."

"But I cannot ask her to wait forever. That's why I must go away and
try to make good." He set his teeth, and his jaw muscles were ridged.
"I believe a man can get what he goes after in the right spirit, Miss
Polly." He swing off the porch and left her.

The fog was heavy on shore and sea that day, holding the _Ethel and May_
in port. He disappeared into the stifling mist, and the girl sat and
stared into that vacancy for a long time.

Mayo rowed out to the schooner, which was anchored in the harbor roads.
He was carrying his accounts to Captain Candage.

Standing and facing forward as he rowed, he came suddenly upon a big
steam-yacht which had stolen into the cove through the fog and was
anchored in his course. She was the _Sprite_, and he had formed a
'longshore acquaintance with her skipper that summer, meeting him
in harbors where the _Sprite_ and _Olenia_ had been neighbors in the
anchorage. He stopped rowing and allowed the dory to drift. He noted
that the blue flag was flying at the main starboard spreader, announcing
the absence of the owner, and he understood that he could call for the
skipper without embarrassing that gentleman. One of the crew was putting
covers on the brasswork forward.

"Compliments to Captain Trott, and tell him that Captain Mayo is at the
gangway."

The skipper appeared promptly, replying to the hail before the sailor
had stirred. "Come aboard, sir."

"I'll not bother you that much, captain. I can ask my question just as
well from here. Do you know of any good opening for a man of my size?"

The captain of the _Sprite_ came to the rail and did not reply promptly.

"I have left the _Olenia_ and I'm looking for something."

Captain Trott started for the gangway. "Oh, you needn't trouble to come
down, sir."

"I'd rather, Captain Mayo." After he had descended he squatted on the
platform at the foot of the ladder and held the dory close, grasping the
gunwale. "What are you doing for yourself these days?"

Mayo had no relish for a long story. "I'm waiting to grab in on
something," he replied.

Captain Trott did not show any alacrity in getting to the subject which
Mayo had broached. "It has set in pretty thick, hasn't it? I have been
ordered in here to wait for my folks; they're visiting at some big
estate up-river."

"But about the chance for a job, captain!"

"Look here! What kind of a run-in did you have with the _Olenia_