eer--stories of stern trial, of
dangerous adventure, of grim fights with the ravening sea; peril by
shipwreck, by fire, by savages; encounters with whales and sharks, with
Malay pirates; voyaging with a hold full of opium-crazed coolie
laborers, and of actual mutiny on the hermaphrodite brig, _Galatea_,
when Cap'n Amazon alone of all the afterguard was left alive to fight
the treacherous crew and navigate the ship.

Those two hours were memorable--and would remain so in Louise's mind
for weeks. Lawford Tapp, too, quite gave himself up to the charm of
the old romancer. To watch Cap'n Amazon's dark intent face and his
glowing eyes, while he told of these wonders of sea and land, would
have thrilled the most sophisticated listener.

"Isn't he a wonder?" murmured Lawford, as Louise accompanied him to the
gate and watched him start the automobile engine. "I never heard such
a fellow in my life. And good as gold!"

Louise had made up her mind to be distinctly casual with the young man
hereafter; but his hearty praise of her uncle warmed her manner toward
him. Besides, she had to confess in secret that Lawford was most
likable.

She mentioned her aunt's arrival in the neighborhood and he asked,
laughing:

"Oh, then shall we have her for our chaperon?"

"Aunt Euphemia? Mercy, no! I have chosen Betty Gallup and believe me,
Mr. Tapp, Betty is much to be preferred."

It was odd that Louise had not yet discovered who and what Lawford Tapp
was. Yet the girl had talked with few of the neighbors likely to
discuss the affairs of the summer residents along The Beaches. And, of
course, she asked Cap'n Amazon no questions, for he was not likely to
possess the information.

After she had bidden her uncle good-night and retired, thoughts of
Lawford Tapp kept her mind alert. She could not settle herself to
sleep. With the lamp burning brightly on the stand at the bedside and
herself propped with pillows, she opened the old scrapbook found in the
storeroom chest and fluttered its pages.

Almost immediately she came upon a story related in the Newport
_Mercury_. It was the supposedly veracious tale of an ancient sea
captain who had been a whaler in the old days.

There, almost word for word, was printed the story Cap'n Amazon had
told her that evening about the black man and the black dog!

CHAPTER XV

THE UNEXPECTED

The finding of one of Cap'n Amazon's amazing narratives of personal
prowess in the old scra