with him, and said some pleasant
things. So did many others, Dr. Palmer among the number. Altogether, the
journey through the hall was a sort of triumphal progress.

"Whew!" gasped the Captain, as they came out into the clear air and the
moonlight, "let's hope that's the last of the dime-show bus'ness."

"Eri," whispered Mrs. Snow, "I'm so proud of you, I don't know what to
do."

And that remark was sweeter to the Captain's ears than all those that
had preceded it.

They turned into the shore road and were alone. It was a clear winter
night, fresh, white snow on the ground, not a breath of wind, and the
full moon painting land and sea dark blue and silver white. The surf
sounded faint and far off. Somewhere in the distance a dog was barking,
and through the stillness came an occasional laugh or shout from the
people going home from the hall.

"Lots of things can happen in a few months, can't they?" said Mrs. Snow,
glancing at the black shadow of the shuttered Baxter homestead.

"They can so," replied the Captain. "Think what's happened sence last
September. I didn't know you then, and now it seems 's if I'd always
known you. John was alive then, and Elsie nor Ralph hadn't come. Perez
hadn't met Pashy neither. My! my! Everybody's choosed partners but
Jerry," he chuckled, "and Jerry looked the most likely candidate 'long
at the beginnin'. I'm glad," he added, "that Ralph's made up his mind to
stay here. We shan't lose him nor Elsie for a few years, anyhow."

They paused at the knoll by the gate.

"Fair day to-morrer," observed the Captain, looking up at the sky.

"I hope it 'll be fair weather for us the rest of our days," said Mrs.
Snow.

"You've HAD it rough enough, that's sure. Well, I hope you'll have a
smooth v'yage, now."

The lady from Nantucket looked up into his face with a happy laugh.

"I guess I shall," she said. "I know I've got a good pilot."

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Cap'n Eri, by Joseph Crosby Lincoln

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAP'N ERI ***

***** This file should be named 3240.txt or 3240.zip *****
This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
http://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/4/3240/

Produced by Donald Lainson

Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
will be renamed.

Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundat