punish you by never giving you
another kiss."

"I ain't got no right to expect it, anyway, Beth."

"Uncle Josiah, don't let me hear that again. I want to hear all about
your voyage," she demanded as she settled herself on the rocks, and
motioned him near her.

"There wa'n't none, that is, none to speak of."

"Oh! But there was, and it must have been the most mysterious of all.
You went in the night, and you came in the night. Did you do all your
trading in the night, too, slipping about through the streets in some
unknown country with moccasins on your feet, like you once told me about
the Chinese?"

She laughed, but the Captain did not catch the restrained note and
manner.

"There, now! That's more like it!" he declared, joining in with a
cracked laugh. "It seemed afore like I was talking to a young lady I'd
never seen. Feel more like I'd got back home with you laughing like
that."

"I haven't been indulging much since you went away."

"You ain't?"

"But tell me about your trip."

"You was right on most p'ints, excepting I didn't cruise back in the
night."

"Then how did you slip into town so quietly and unseen? I've been
sitting on these cold stones for two days looking for you."

"I come back by railroad, and just now was walking over from the
station."

"But where did you leave the _Jennie P._? Why didn't you come back with
her?"

"I run her into dry-dock down to the city for repairs," he said
quietly.

The girl noticed a slight catch in his voice.

"I thought you did all your own repairing."

"I do when there ain't nothing bad wrong."

"You sailed the _Jennie P._ all the way into the city and left it
there?"

"Something went wrong with the engine, and I didn't have no time to
tinker with her afore I had to come back. Them there gas engines is
worse than a team of mules when they get to bucking and balking.
They----"

"Captain Pott! Tell me the truth. Why did you leave your boat in the
city docks?"

"For the reason I told you." He was looking away from her.

"Look at me, Uncle Josiah."

"Can't just now, Beth. I'm watching----"

"Oh, please tell me all about it!"

"There ain't nothing more to tell."

"You did not leave the _Jennie P._ in dry-dock for repairs!" she cried
with apprehension.

He did not reply, but tightly gripped the hand which had been slipped
into his.

"Tell me, please!" she implored. "You said a little while ago that you
were singing to keep up your spirits