out, Hugh passed it on up to the pilots.
Between the strains Gilmore said softly to "California":

"My dear fellow, no. Every time we show ourselves their partisans we
make heavier hauling for them. They'd tell us so, only that--don't you
see?--they can't even do that. It would be _infra dig._" But in fact
Ramsey was just then telling something much like that to his wife.

"Yes," admitted the Californian, full of a new scheme, yet always
generous, "and that was a ten-strike, your wife, after supper, taking
Miss Hayle away from Hugh and Gideon in such gay style. Did you see
how't sort o' eased the old man's mind?"

The leadsman's cry changed and so came twice or thrice, Hugh as often
repeating it to the pilots, while Ramsey and Mrs. Gilmore, though
hearkening, whispered busily.

"Shoaling," commented Mrs. Gilmore to Ramsey.

"Not seriously," said the river-wise Ramsey. "Go on. What did you get
out of him at last?" She had a merry sparkle.

Once more the far-below cry rose to them and was restated by Hugh
without color or thrill. Ramsey well knew that so it was always sung and
spoken, yet she remarked:

"Hear that absurd difference--in those two voices."

"That's the difference between him and other men, Ramsey; even between
him and your father."

She liked that, though now she felt bitter toward him for not being more
like ordinary mortals.

"Go on," she lightly repeated. "If he won't make words happen with me I
must take him second-hand."

"You naughty girl! He'll tell you all you'll let him."

"Oh, I'll let him, all he'll tell me. What did he say?"

"He said the very best was, that under all your mantle of new
charms----"

Ramsey's soft laugh interrupted. "He didn't. He never said that, my
lady. He wouldn't know how. You said it."

"Well, he did say that under it all there's nothing lost of the Ramsey
we began with."

"The slanderer!" They laughed together. The calls of the lead were
passing unnoticed. "Mark above water, twain; mark, twain; quarter less,
twain; half, twain; nine and a half; by the mark, nine; nine feet."

"The slanderer! Why, that's actionable! I'll have the law on him!" The
speaker's mirth was overdone. As the leadsman sang another cry and Hugh
sedately spoke it she tinkled as of old and said: "Don't get excited,
captain. Keep cool."

Mrs. Gilmore sobered. "You may laugh, but I believe he's talked with
your father conclusively and will to you to-night, if you'll allow it."

"