l, we're all used to him, but he must strike
strangers as right down peculiar-looking. I've known him ever since he
was ten--he's about fifty now--and I like him. Him and me was out
cod-fishing today. That's about all I'm good for now--catching trout
and cod occasional. But 'tweren't always so--not by no manner of
means. I used to do other things, as you'd admit if you saw my
life-book."

Anne was just going to ask what his life-book was when the First Mate
created a diversion by springing upon Captain Jim's knee. He was a
gorgeous beastie, with a face as round as a full moon, vivid green
eyes, and immense, white, double paws. Captain Jim stroked his velvet
back gently.

"I never fancied cats much till I found the First Mate," he remarked,
to the accompaniment of the Mate's tremendous purrs. "I saved his
life, and when you've saved a creature's life you're bound to love it.
It's next thing to giving life. There's some turrible thoughtless
people in the world, Mistress Blythe. Some of them city folks who have
summer homes over the harbor are so thoughtless that they're cruel.
It's the worst kind of cruelty--the thoughtless kind. You can't cope
with it. They keep cats there in the summer, and feed and pet 'em, and
doll 'em up with ribbons and collars. And then in the fall they go off
and leave 'em to starve or freeze. It makes my blood boil, Mistress
Blythe. One day last winter I found a poor old mother cat dead on the
shore, lying against the skin-and-bone bodies of her three little
kittens. She'd died trying to shelter 'em. She had her poor stiff
paws around 'em. Master, I cried. Then I swore. Then I carried them
poor little kittens home and fed 'em up and found good homes for 'em.
I knew the woman who left the cat and when she come back this summer I
jest went over the harbor and told her my opinion of her. It was rank
meddling, but I do love meddling in a good cause."

"How did she take it?" asked Gilbert.

"Cried and said she 'didn't think.' I says to her, says I, 'Do you
s'pose that'll be held for a good excuse in the day of Jedgment, when
you'll have to account for that poor old mother's life? The Lord'll
ask you what He give you your brains for if it wasn't to think, I
reckon.' I don't fancy she'll leave cats to starve another time."

"Was the First Mate one of the forsaken?" asked Anne, making advances
to him which were responded to graciously, if condescendingly.

"Yes. I found HI