r-rah, we're outward bound!
--Song of the Dog and Bell.

Captain Mayo, when he woke, had it promptly conveyed to him that
hospitality on board the _Reuben and Esther_ had watchful eyes. While he
was rubbing feeling back into his stiffened limbs, sitting there in the
lee alley, the cook came lugging a pot of hot coffee and a plate heaped
with food.

"Thought you'd rather have it here than in the cuddy. The miss is asleep
in the house," whispered the cook.

Captain Candage came to Mayo while the latter was eating and sat down on
the deck. Gloom had settled on the schooner's master. "I don't want to
bother you with my troubles, seeing that you've got aplenty of your own,
sir. But I'm needing a little advice. I have lost a schooner that has
been my home ever since I was big enough to heave a dunnage-bag over
the rail, and not a cent of insurance. Insurance would have et up all my
profits. What do you think of my chances to make a dollar over and above
providing I hire a tugboat and try to salvage?"

"According to my notion your chances would be poor, sir. Claims in such
cases usually eat up all a craft is worth. Besides, you may find those
yachtsmen on your back for damages, providing you get her in where she
can be libeled."

"I shouldn't wonder a mite," admitted Captain Can-dage. "The more some
folks have the more they keep trying to git."

"I was looking her bottom over while we sat there, and it must be owned
up that her years have told on her."

"I hate to let her go."

"That's natural, sir. But I have an idea that she will be reported as
a menace to navigation, and that a coastguard cutter will blow her up
before you can get around to make your salvage arrangements."

"When a man is down they all jump on him."

"I can agree with you there," affirmed Captain Mayo, mournfully.

"She showed grit--that girl," ventured Candage, giving the other man
keen survey from under his grizzled brows.

"I must ask you to furl sail on that subject, sir," snapped Mayo, with
sailor bluntness.

"I only said it complimentary. Lots of times girls have more grit than
they are given credit for. You think they're just girls, and then you
find out that they are hero-ines! I thought I had some grit, but my own
Polly has shamed me. I was just down watching her--she's asleep in Cap'n
Sinnett's bunk. Made the tears come up into my eyes, sir, to ponder
on what she has been through on account of my cussed fool