will be quite free from interruption here. My
sister and I often sit for hours without talking, and--"

"No, no, dear Miss Kate. Say no more," interrupted the captain; "I must
stick to my own cabin except at meal-times, and, of course, when we want
a bit of a talk together. There is one thing, however, that I would
like. I know you have family worship with your little lass. May I join
you?"

"Oh! it would give us such pleasure," exclaimed Kate, eagerly, "if you
would come and conduct worship for us."

The captain protested that he would not do that, but finally gave in,
and afterwards acted the part of chaplain in the family.

"By the way," he said, when about to quit the parlour, "I've brought
another chest to the house."

"Yes," said Kate, "we felt the shock when you put it down."

"Well, it is a bit heavy. I've fairly given up my connection with my
last ship, and as the new commander took possession this morning I was
obliged to bring away my last box. Now, I don't want Liffie to move it
about when putting things to rights, or to meddle with it in any way.
When we want to sweep behind or under it I'll shift it myself. But,
after all, you're safe not to move it, for the three of you together
couldn't if you were to try ever so much. So, good-day. I'll be back
to tea."

"Kate," said Jessie, after he was gone, "I am quite sure that there is
some mystery connected with that box."

"Of course you are," replied Kate, with a laugh, "you always see mystery
in things that you don't understand! You saw mystery too, didn't you,
in the late sitting up and studies of Captain Bream."

"Indeed I did, and I am quite sure that there _is_ some mystery about
that, too."

"Just so, and I have no doubt that you observe mystery of some sort,"
added Kate, with a humorous glance, "in the order for worsted work that
we have just received."

"Undoubtedly I do," replied Jessie, with decision. "The whole affair is
mysterious--ridiculously so. In truth it seems to me that we are
surrounded by mystery."

"Well, well, sister mine," said the matter-of-fact Kate, going to a
small cupboard and producing an ample work-box that served for both,
"whatever mysteries may surround us, it is our business to fulfil our
engagements, so we will at once begin our knitting of cuffs and
comforters for the fishermen of the North Sea."

CHAPTER SIX.

THE CURSE OF THE NORTH SEA; AND THE TRAWLS AT WORK.

There are few objects in