not be
noticed now, when all the grown people were here; perhaps--but his
thoughts were put to flight by Mr. Scraper's words. John was a truthful
boy, and he could not have the Spanish man think he had lied in saying
that the old man was a collector. He was stepping forward, his face
alight with eager protest, when Mr. Endymion Scraper brought his cane
round with a backward sweep, catching John on the legs with spiteful
emphasis. The Skipper saw it, and a dark red flushed through the bronze
of his cheek. His glance caught the child's and held it, speaking anger,
cheer, and the promise of better things; the boy dropped back and
rubbed his smarting shins, well content, with a warm feeling about the
heart.

"The gentleman will step down to the cabin," said the deep, quiet voice.
"I will attend him, the ladies also."

He led the way, and pretty Lena Brown came next; she glanced up at him
as he held out his strong hand to help her down the ladder. Her blue
eyes were very sweet as she met his gaze, and the faint wild-rose blush
became her well. Certainly, Lena was a very pretty girl. Franci nearly
tumbled over the companion-rail in his endeavours to look after her, and
Laurentus Woodcock, catching one glimpse of her face, retreated to the
farthest corner of the after-deck, and sold a Triton for ten cents, when
the lowest price was thirty.

Several other persons came down into the cabin at the same time. There
was Mr. Bill Hen Pike. Mr. Bill Hen had been a sailor himself fifty
years ago, and it was a point of honour with him to visit anything with
keel and sails that came up the river. He used nautical expressions
whenever it could be managed, and was the village authority on all
sea-going matters.

There were Isaac Cutter and his wife, who had money to spend, and were
not averse to showing it; there was Miss Eliza Clinch, who had spent her
fifty years of life in looking for a bargain, which she had not yet
found; and some others. But though the Skipper was courteous to all, he
kept close to the side of Mr. Endymion Scraper; and the boy John, and
Lena Brown, who was always kind to him, kept close beside the other two.
The girl was enchanted with what she saw, but her joy was chiefly in
the trinkets that filled the glass counter,--the necklaces and
bracelets, the shell hairpins and mother-of-pearl portemonnaies.

"Aint they handsome?" she cried, over and over, surveying the treasures
with clasped hands and shining eyes. "