e the
carcass is the vultures are on deck, or words similar. Humph! Did our
Angelic friend have much to say?"

"DID she? And _I_ had somethin' to say, too! I never in my life!"

"Humph!" Her employer eyed her sharply. "So? And so soon? Talk about
the telegraph spreadin' news! I'd back most any half dozen tongues in
Bayport to spread more news, and add more trimmin' to it, in a day
than the telegraph could do in a week. Especially if all the telegraph
operators was like the one up at the depot. Well, Georgianna, when you
goin' to leave?"

"Leave? Leave where? What are you talkin' about?"

"Leave here. Of course you realize that this ship of ours," indicating
the house by a comprehensive wave of his hand around the room, "is goin'
to be a mighty unpopular craft from now on. We may be on a lee shore any
minute. You've got your own well-bein' to think of."

"My own well-bein'! What do you s'pose I care for my well-bein' when
there's--Cap'n Whittaker, you tell me now! Is it so?"

"Some of it is--yes. He's come back and he's who he says he is. You've
seen him. He was here all day yesterday."

"So Angie said, but I couldn't scarcely believe it. That toughy! Cap'n
Whittaker, do you intend to hand over that poor little innocent thing
to--to such a man as THAT?"

"No. There'll be no handin' over about it. But the odds are against us,
and there's no reason why you should be in the rumpus, Georgianna. You
may not understand what we're facin'."

The housekeeper drew herself up. Her face was very red and her small
eyes snapped.

"Cy Whittaker," she began, manners and deference to employer alike
forgotten, "don't you say no more of that wicked foolishness to me. I'll
leave the minute you're mean-spirited enough to let that child go and
not afore. And when THAT happens I'll be GLAD to leave. Land sakes!
there's somebody at the door; and I expect I'm a perfect sight."

She rubbed her face with her apron, thereby making it redder than ever,
and hurried into the dining room.

"Bos'n," said Captain Cy quickly, "you stay here in the kitchen."

Emmie looked at him in surprised bewilderment, but she suppressed her
curiosity concerning the identity of the person who had knocked, and
obeyed. The captain pulled the kitchen door almost shut and listened at
the crack.

The first spoken words by the visitor appeared to relieve Captain Cy's
anxiety; but they seemed to astonish him greatly.

"Why!" he exclaimed in a whisper. "Ain't