served to strengthen her resolution, and it was with a feeling of
almost pious thankfulness that she realized the advantages of such an
arrangement. She went out and posted her letter to her father, and then,
with a mind at ease, wrote a nice letter to Captain Trimblett, full of
apologies for her precipitancy, and regretting that he had not informed
her before of what she called his change of mind. She added that, after
mature deliberation, she had decided not to return to Salthaven until
after he had sailed.

Captain Trimblett got the letter next morning and, hurrying off to the
nearest post-office, filled up a telegraph-form with a few incisive
words dashed off at white heat. He destroyed six forms before he
had arrived at what he considered a happy mean between strength and
propriety, and then at the lady clerk's earnest request altered one
of the words of the seventh. A few hours later he was on his way to
Salthaven.

It was late when he arrived and the office of Vyner and Son was closed.
He went on to Laurel Lodge, and, after knocking and ringing for some
time in vain, walked back to the town and went on board his ship. The
new crew had not yet been signed on, and Mr. Walters, the only man
aboard, was cut short in his expressions of pleasure at the captain's
return and sent ashore for provisions.

[Illustration: Cut short in his expressions of pleasure 216]

"Time you went to sea again," said the captain a little later as the
boatswain went on his hands and knees to recover the pieces of a plate
he had dropped.

"I wish I'd gone a month ago, sir," said Mr. Walters. "Shore's no place
for a sailorman."

The captain grunted, and turning suddenly surprised the eye of Mr.
Walters fixed upon him with an odd, puzzled expression that he had
noticed before that evening. Mr. Walters, caught in the act, ducked from
sight, and recovered a crumb that was trying to pass itself off as a
piece of china.

"What are you staring at me for?" demanded the captain.

"Me, sir?" said the boatswain. "I wasn't staring."

He rose with his hands full of pieces and retreated to the door. Almost
against his will he stole another glance at the captain and blinked
hastily at the gaze that met his own.

"If I've got a smut on my nose--" began the captain, ferociously.

"No, sir," said Mr. Walters, disappearing.

"Come here!" roared the other.

The boatswain came back reluctantly.

"If I catch you making those faces at me again,"