prising. "It
isn't a great many miles, is it?"

"No, no!" said the new acquaintance. "I was in considerable of a hurry
to get home, but 't isn't so bad as you think. We can go right up on the
packet, up river, you know; get there by supper-time; the wind's hauling
round into the east a little. I understood you to speak about getting to
Tideshead?"

"Yes," said Betty, gratefully.

"Got a trunk, I expect. Well, I'll go out and look round for Asa Chick
and his han'cart, and we'll make for the wharf as quick as we can. You
may step this way."

Betty "stepped" gladly, and Asa Chick and the handcart soon led the way
riverward through the pleasant old-fashioned streets of Riverport. Her
new friend pointed out one or two landmarks as they hurried along, for,
strange to say, although a sea-captain, he was not sure whether the tide
turned at half past two or at half past three. When they came to the
river-side, however, the packet-boat was still made fast to the pier,
and nothing showed signs of her immediate departure.

"It is always a good thing to be in time," said the captain, who found
himself much too warm and nearly out of breath. "Now, we've got a good
hour to wait. Like to go right aboard, my dear?"

Betty paid Asa Chick, and then turned to see the packet. It was a queer,
heavy-looking craft, with a short, thick mast and high, pointed
lateen-sail, half unfurled and dropping in heavy pocket-like loops.
There was a dark low cabin and a long deck; a very old man and a fat,
yellow dog seemed to be the whole ship's company. The old man was
smoking a pipe and took no notice of anything, but the dog rose slowly
to his feet and came wagging his tail and looking up at the new
passenger.

"I do' know but I'll coast round up into the town a little," said the
captain. "'T ain't no use asking old Mr. Plunkett there any questions,
he's deef as a ha'dick."

"Will my trunk be safe?" asked Betty; to which the captain answered that
he would put it right aboard for her. It was not a very heavy trunk, but
the captain managed it beautifully, and put Betty's hand-bag and wrap
into the dark cabin. Old Plunkett nodded as he saw this done, and the
captain said again that Betty might feel perfectly safe about
everything; but, for all that, she refused to take a walk in order to
see what was going on in the town, as she was kindly invited to do. She
went a short distance by herself, however, and came first to a bakery,
where she bought