chin and a smile which was apologetic but
ingratiating. He seemed less frightened than when he first entered the
room, but still glanced about him with evident apprehension.

"No--no, ma'am," he stammered, in answer to the question. "No, ma'am,
I--I--my name's Parker. I--I ain't a cap'n; no, ma'am."

"Kenelm ain't been promoted yet," observed Captain Obed gravely. "He's
waitin' until he get's old enough to go to sea. Ain't that it, Kenelm?"

Kenelm smiled and shifted his sou'wester from his right hand to his
left.

"I--I cal'late so," he answered.

"Well, it don't make any difference," declared Thankful. "My cousin
and I are just as glad to see him as if he was an admiral. We've been
waitin' so long to see any human bein' that we'd begun to think they was
all drowned. But you haven't met my cousin yet. Her name's Howes."

Emily, who had stood by, patient but chilly, during the introductions
and reminiscences, shook hands with Captain Bangs and Mr. Parker. Both
gentlemen said they were pleased to meet her; no, Captain Obed said
that--Kenelm said that he was "glad to be acquaintanced."

"I don't know as we hadn't ought to beg your pardon for creepin' in on
you this way," said the captain. "We thought the house was empty. We
didn't know you was visitin' your--your property."

"Well, so far as that goes, neither did we. I don't wonder you expected
to find burglars or tramps or whatever you did expect. We've had an
awful time this night, ain't we, Emily?"

"We certainly have," declared Miss Howes, with emphasis.

"Yes, you see--"

She gave a brief history of the cruise and wreck of the depot-wagon.
Also of their burglarious entry of the house.

"And now, Cap'n," she said, in conclusion, "if you could think up any
way of our gettin' to that hotel, we'd be ever so much obliged. . . .
Hello! There's that driver, I do believe! And about time, I should say!"

From without came the sound of wheels and the voice of Winnie S.,
hailing his missing passengers.

"Hi! Hi-i! Where be ye?"

"He'll wear his lungs out, screamin' that way," snapped Thankful. "Can't
he see the light, for goodness sakes?"

Captain Obed answered. "He couldn't see nothin' unless 'twas hung on the
end of his nose," he said. "That boy's eyes and brains ain't connected.
Here, Kenelm," turning to Mr. Parker, "you go out and tell Win to shut
down on his fog whistle; he's wastin' steam. Tell him the women-folks
are in here. Look alive, now!"

Ken