know but you merely
wanted to hunt for some o' them Indian relics. Long's you want to see
where Joanna lived--No, 'tain't breakin' over the ledges; we'll manage
to fetch across the shoals somehow, 'tis such a distance to go 'way
round, and tide's a-risin'," he ended hopefully, and we sailed steadily
on, the captain speechless with intent watching of a difficult course,
until the small island with its low whitish promontory lay in full view
before us under the bright afternoon sun.

The month was August, and I had seen the color of the islands change
from the fresh green of June to a sunburnt brown that made them look
like stone, except where the dark green of the spruces and fir balsam
kept the tint that even winter storms might deepen, but not fade. The
few wind-bent trees on Shell-heap Island were mostly dead and gray,
but there were some low-growing bushes, and a stripe of light green ran
along just above the shore, which I knew to be wild morning-glories. As
we came close I could see the high stone walls of a small square field,
though there were no sheep left to assail it; and below, there was a
little harbor-like cove where Captain Bowden was boldly running the
great boat in to seek a landing-place. There was a crooked channel of
deep water which led close up against the shore.

"There, you hold fast for'ard there, an' wait for her to lift on the
wave. You'll make a good landin' if you're smart; right on the port-hand
side!" the captain called excitedly; and I, standing ready with high
ambition, seized my chance and leaped over to the grassy bank.

"I'm beat if I ain't aground after all!" mourned the captain
despondently.

But I could reach the bowsprit, and he pushed with the boat-hook, while
the wind veered round a little as if on purpose and helped with the
sail; so presently the boat was free and began to drift out from shore.

"Used to call this p'int Joanna's wharf privilege, but 't has worn away
in the weather since her time. I thought one or two bumps wouldn't hurt
us none,--paint's got to be renewed, anyway,--but I never thought she'd
tetch. I figured on shyin' by," the captain apologized. "She's too gre't
a boat to handle well in here; but I used to sort of shy by in Joanna's
day, an' cast a little somethin' ashore--some apples or a couple o'
pears if I had 'em--on the grass, where she'd be sure to see."

I stood watching while Captain Bowden cleverly found his way back to
deeper water. "You needn