re this last year, if _she_ doesn't up and die! Sing'lar gift
folks has for dying out in them parts; living so fur from the sea, I've
always cal'lated. All about it, that old spider goes out the third time,
and no coffin-plates this time, but he brings back the boy; and lo, ye!
he's made full guardeen over the child, and has him, body and soul.

"Now I aint a malicious man, no way of the world, Mister,--well,
whatever your name is. But I tell you, that old weasel is laying for
something ugly about that youngster. Some say he's applied to send him
to the Reform School; good little boy as I'd want to see. I believe
it's so. Don't tell me! He's got money, that child has, or land, and Dym
Scraper means to have it. The child's got no one in the world to look
to, and folks about here are so skeered of Deacon Scraper that they'll
set by, I believe, and see a thing like that done before their eyes. I
tell ye what, sir, I'm a church-member, and I don't want to say nothing
but what's right and proper; but if there was a prophet anyways handy in
these times (and a mighty good thing to have round, too), there'd be
fire and brimstun called, down on Dym Scraper, and the hull village
would turn out to see him get it, too!"

"But you, sir!" said the Skipper, who had his knife out now, and was
carving strange things on the table, as was his manner when moved. "You
will not permit such a thing, a person of heart as you have the air to
be? No, you will not permit that a thing enormous take place at your
side?"

Mr. Bill Hen's face grew purple; he drew out a large handkerchief and
wiped his forehead, puffing painfully; there was a pause.

"Married man?" he said, at length. "No, beg your pardon, unmarried, I
remember. Well, sir, you may know something of life, but there's a sight
you don't know yet. See?"

Again there was silence, the Skipper gazing darkly at his carven runes,
Mr. Bill Hen still puffing and wiping his brow.

"Yes, there's a sight you don't know about," he said again. "My wife,
you see, she's a good woman, there's no better woman round; but she's
masterful, sir, she's masterful, and I'm a man who's always led a quiet
life and desire peace. And there's more behind; though why on the airth
I'm telling you all this is more than I can tell!"

The last words came with a peevish outburst, and he hesitated, as if
minded to say no more; but the Skipper raised his head, and the dark
eyes sent out a compelling glance. The weake