. "Only I ought to beg that dime museum feller's
pardon. 'Tain't right to be partial this way."

The hall was jammed to the doors. Captain Eri, seated on the platform
at one end of the half-circle of selectmen, local politicians, and minor
celebrities, looked from the Congressman in the middle to Luther on the
other end, and then out over the crowded settees. He saw Mrs. Snow's
pleasant, wholesome face beaming proudly beside Captain Jerry's red one.
He saw Captain Perez and Miss Patience sitting together close to the
front, and Ralph and Elsie a little further back. The Reverend Mr.
Perley was there; so were the Smalls and Miss Abigail Mullett. Melissa
Busteed was on the very front bench with the boys, of whom Josiah was
one. The "train committee" was there--not a member missing--and at the
rear of the hall, smiling and unctuous as ever, was "Web" Saunders. In
spite of his stage fright the Captain grinned when he saw "Web."

Mr. Solomon Bangs, his shirt-bosom crackling with importance, introduced
the Congressman. The latter's address was, so the Item said, "a triumph
of oratorical effort." It really was a good speech, and when it touched
upon the simple sacrifice of the men who had given up their lives in the
course of what, to them, was everyday work, there were stifled sobs all
through the hall. Luther Davis, during this portion of the address,
sat with his big hand shading his eyes. Later on, when the speaker was
sounding the praises of the man who "alone, forgetful of himself, braved
the sea and the storm to save his friends," those who looked at Captain
Eri saw his chair hitched back, inch by inch, until, as the final
outburst came, little more than his Sunday shoes was in sight. He had
retired, chair and all, to the wings.

But they called him to the platform again and, amid--we quote from the
Item once more--"a hurricane of applause," the two heroes were adorned
with the watches and the medals.

There was a sort of impromptu reception after the ceremony, when Captain
Eri, with Mrs. Snow on his arm, struggled through the crowd toward the
door.

"'Twas great, shipmate, and you deserved it!" declared magnanimous
Captain Jerry, wringing his hand.

"'Tain't ha'f what you ought to have, Eri," said Captain Perez.

"I haven't said much to thank you for savin' Luther," whispered Miss
Patience, "but I hope you know that we both appreciate what you done and
never 'll forgit it."

Ralph and Elsie also shook hands