CHAPTER VII

CAPTAIN JESS

Jessica drew back, repelled. Why did that man make her so unhappy
whenever she saw him nowadays? What did he mean by that speech about
old Ephraim Marsh and the safe? Well, he was gone, riding swiftly away
and lightening her trouble with every rod of ground he put between them.

"He'll not come for a month, he said, and by that time everything
will be straight. If Sobrante is ours it cannot possibly be his. That's
simple. Though he might have lived here always if he'd wished. The
title paper has been mislaid. That's all. I'm sure to find it when
I have time to look thoroughly, and how different things do seem by
daylight. Now, to say good-morning to the 'boys,' dear fellows, and
then for breakfast. I'm as hungry as on ostrich."

Though since sunrise each had been busy about his accustomed duties,
neglecting nothing because of the change in command, it suited the ideas
of these faithful ranchmen to report for duty to their newly appointed
"captain" and to ask for orders from her. With the ready intuition of
childhood she fell in with their mood at once and received them in a
manner which robbed the affair of burlesque and invested it with dignity.

From a shaded corner of the porch, from behind his book, Mr. Hale
watched the scene with an amusement that soon gave place to wonder and
admiration. They were all profoundly in earnest. The fair young girl with
folded arms and serene composure, poised at the head of the steps and
the group of sunburned workmen standing respectfully before her.

By tacit consent Samson was spokesman for the company and his words had
their usual nautical tinge.

"We're ready to set sail, captain, and here's wishing good luck to
the v'yge! Old 'Forty-niner' hasn't showed up on deck yet, but
he'll likely soon heave to, and the rest the crew'll vouch for his
being a good hand in any sort o' storm we're apt to strike. We've
overhauled this chart. Each of us solemnly promise to abide and obey no
orders but yours, captain, or the admiral's through you. And would
respectfully suggest--each man sticks to the post he's always filled,
till ordered off it by his superior officer. Right, mates?"

"Ay, ay."

"How's that suit you, commodore?"

"That suits me, Samson. It will suit my mother."

"As for pay--being as we've got along without any these five months
back, and Senor Top-Lofty's rode off, forgettin' to leave them arrears
we mentioned, we wash the slate