"Ain't it powerful!"

"The wind is coming off from the South," said Winthrop.

"Yes, I felt some little puffs on my cheek," said Winnie.

"Glad to hear it," said the sloop master, a tall, bony, ill-
set-together specimen of a shore and water man; -- "there ain't
enough now to send an egg-shell along, and I'd like to shew
you a good run, Mr. Landholm, since you're goin' along with
me. She looks smart, don't she?"

"If she'll only work as well," said Winthrop. "Hild', you
haven't got much cargo aboard."

"Only as much as'll keep her steady," answered the skipper.
"'Seems to me nobody ain't a wantin' nothin' up our ways. I
guess you're the heaviest article on board, Winthrop; -- she
never carried a lawyer before."

"Are lawyers heavy articles?" said Winnie laughing.

"'Cordin' to what I've heern, I should say they be; ain't
they, squire? -- considerable, -- especially when they get on
folks's hands. I hope you're a better sort, Winthrop, -- or
ain't there much choice in 'em?"

"You shall try me when you get into trouble," said Winthrop.

"Is this Mr. Cowslip's old sloop?" said Winnie.

"She don't look old, does she?" inquired Mr. Hildebrand.

"But I mean, is it the same he used to have? -- No, she looks
very handsome indeed."

"She's the old one though," said the skipper, "the same old
Julia Ann. What's the use o' askin' ladies' ages? -- she's just
as good as when she was young; and better dressed. I've had
the cabin fixed up for you, Mr. Landholm, -- I guess it'll be
pretty comfortable in there."

"It's a great deal pleasanter here," said Winnie. "There comes
the wind! -- that was a puff! --"

"Well we're ready for it," said the skipper.

And stronger puffs came after, and soon a steady fair
southerly breeze set up the river and sent the Julia Ann on
before it. Straight up the river their course lay, without
veering a point for miles. The sun was lowering towards the
horizon and the heat was lessening momently, even without the
south breeze which bade it be forgotten; and the blue waters
of the river, so sluggish a little while ago, were briskly
curling and rippling, and heading like themselves for Wut-a-
qut-o.

Winnie sat still and silent in the shadow of the huge sail.
Winthrop was standing close beside her, talking with the
skipper; but he knew that his little sister had hold of his
hand and had laid her unbonneted head against his arm; and
when the skipper left him he stooped down to her.