time I've clutched eelgrass an'
tore it from its muddy bottom. That gal," Davy pointed a trembling
finger dune-ward, where the _Comrade_ was bobbing over the roughening
water,--"that gal ain't goin' t' be soiled by any slime if I know it.
She b'longs t' Billy an' me, an' by thunder! we can sail her bark fur
her when her little hand grows tired on the tiller!"

Mark was wiping his eyes. Davy had made him feel himself a blackguard,
but he could not see just where he had erred. Davy, however, took small
heed of Mark.

"I'm goin' down t' get dinner!" he said suddenly, "an' I ain't goin' t'
foller, 'cause she's goin' t' Billy an' there ain't no call I should
inflict myself on 'em. But I'm goin' visitin' in the village this
afternoon,"--he nodded ominously,--"I'm goin' t' pay up some o' my
funeral calls. I hope I ain't goin' t' cause any more funerals, but it
all depends on how bad the disease is!"

Mark's inclination was to hold Davy back from his march of devastation,
but he felt his impotence.

"Onct you put Davy on the scent," he whimpered, as he listened to the
keeper's departing footsteps, "you might as well give up. Davy's a
turrible one fur runnin' down the game. Nation! I hope he won't fall
foul o' Maud Grace an' fling her at her mother!" The cold perspiration
rose to Mark's forehead. "Nation! I wish I hadn't mentioned Mrs. Jo G. I
wish t' gracious I'd laid the hull blamed business t' Pa, fur Pa kin
stand it bein' so soft-like."

Janet reached the dunes in good time, but the distance had never seemed
so long before. The throbbing, hurt heart outstripped the faithful
little _Comrade_ doing its best before the favoring wind. Every tack
seemed a mile, and a fever rose in the blood of the silent girl at the
tiller.

She had time to think. She had time to grow old during that passage. One
figure stood out alone from the confused tangle--her mother! Around that
form much centred! She must know all--all, about her mother.

She must not break upon Billy with her startling news. Billy was so
easily driven into an impenetrable silence! She must draw him out by old
familiar methods and not frighten him into caution. By the time the
_Comrade_ was fastened to the Station wharf, the girl had got herself
well in hand. The men of the crew who were not sleeping were engaged
indoors, a lonely stillness brooded over all. Janet went up to the
government house and looked in at the open door facing the ocean.

"Where's Cap'n Bi