Navy, and that I have the proof in my possession that would make
it clear to all the world as well as to me."

The old captain gave vent to a sudden exclamation that sounded like a
groan. His face looked strangely drawn under his coat of tan.

"Are you sick, Captain Jules?" asked Madge hastily. "Do take my place and
let me have the oars. I am sure I can row you."

Captain Jules smiled back at her. "What made you think I was sick?" he
asked. "What was that you were telling me? How do you know that your
father was guiltless of his fault? Why, Captain Robert Morton was one of
the kindest men that ever trod a deck, and yet he was convicted of
cruelty to one of his own sailors."

"Captain Jules," continued Madge earnestly, "I would like to tell you the
whole story if you have time to listen to it. You know I promised long
ago to tell you. Two years ago, when we were on the second of our
houseboat excursions, we spent part of our holiday near Old Point
Comfort. There I met the man who had been my father's superior officer.
Some unpleasant things happened between his granddaughter and me, and she
told my father's story at a dinner in order to humiliate me. Long
afterward her grandfather heard of what his granddaughter had done and he
made a statement before my friends which cleared my father's name. He
confessed to having allowed my father to suffer for something he had
commanded him to do. My father was too great a man to clear himself at
the expense of his superior officer, so he left the Navy in disgrace and
has never been heard of since that dreadful time.

"There isn't much more to tell. Only the old admiral has died since I met
him. However, he left a paper that was sent to me, in which he acquits my
father of all blame and takes the whole responsibility for my father's
act on himself. Must we go back home, Captain Jules?" for, at the end of
her speech, Madge observed that the captain had turned his skiff and was
rowing directly toward the houseboat. He handed Madge aboard a few
moments later with the air of one whose mind is elsewhere.

It was impossible for Miss Jenny Ann to persuade the old pearl diver to
remain to supper. With very few words to any of the party he turned Madge
over to her friends and rowed hurriedly away toward his home.

CHAPTER XXIII

THE VICTORY OVER FATE

Early the next morning word was brought by a small boy that Captain Jules
Fontaine wished Miss Madge Morton to come out to "Th