furtive in the scrutiny of
the young man, but Joel did not mark it. When the pipe was ready, Asa
passed across a match, and Joel struck it, and puffed slowly....

Asa began, abruptly, what he had to say. "Joel, the _Nathan Ross_ will be
ready for sea in five days. She's stout, her timbers are good and her
tackle is strong. She's a lucky ship. The oil swims after her across the
broad sea, and begs to be taken. She's my pet ship, Joel, as you know;
and she's uncommon well fitted. Mark had her. Now I want you to take
her."

Joel's calm eyes had met the other's while Asa was speaking; and Asa had
shifted to avoid the encounter. But Joel's heart was pounding so, at the
words of the older man, that he took no heed. He listened, and he waited
thoughtfully until he was sure of what he wished to say. Then he asked
quietly:

"Is not James Finch the mate of her? Did he not fetch her home?"

"Aye," said Asa impatiently. "He brought her home--in the top scurry of
haste. There was no need of such haste; for he had still casks unfilled,
and there was sparm all about him where he lay. He should have filled
those last casks. 'Tis in them the profit lies." He shook his head
sorrowfully. "No, Jim Finch will not do. He is a good man--under another
man. But he has not the spine that stands alone. When Mark Shore was gone
... Jim had no thought but to throw the try works overside and scurry
hitherward as though he feared to be out upon the seas alone."

Joel puffed thrice at his pipe. Then: "You said this morning that for
three weeks he hunted Mark, up and down the Gilbert Islands."

Asa's little eyes whipped toward Joel, and away again. "Oh, aye," he said
harshly. "Three weeks he hunted, when one was plenty. If Mark Shore
lived, and wished to find his ship again, he'd have found her in a week.
If he were dead ... there was no need of the time wasted."

"Nevertheless," said Joel quietly, "James Finch has my thanks for his
search; and I'm no mind to do him a harm, or to step into his shoes."

Asa smiled grimly. "Ye're over considerate," he said. "Jim Finch was your
brother's man, and a very loyal one. As long as he is another's man, he
is content. But he has no want to be his own master and the master of a
ship, and of men. I've askit him."

Joel puffed hard at his pipe; and after a little he asked: "Sir, what
think you it was that came to Mark?"

Asa looked at him sharply, then away; and his accustomed volubility fell
away from h