re and some more stuff. Sooner this craft's unloaded the
sooner we can eat. All ashore that's goin' ashore."

Zoeth climbed out of the buggy. He lifted their passenger to the ground.

"Mary-'Gusta," he said, "here's where Cap'n Gould and I live. This is
Mr. Isaiah Chase. Isaiah, this is Mary Lathrop, Cap'n Marcellus's little
girl. She's come to--t--"

"To make us a little visit," put in the Captain, promptly. "You want to
get acquainted with Isaiah, Mary-'Gusta; he's cook and steward for me
and Mr. Zoeth. That's right; shake hands and be sociable."

Mary-'Gusta extended her hand and Mr. Chase, after wiping his own hand
on the apron, pumped hers up and down.

"Pleased to meet you," he said, solemnly.

"Now for the dunnage," said Captain Shad. "There's the satchel and--and
the other things. Look out for that basket! LOOK OUT!"

Mr. Chase had seized the basket and swung it out of the buggy. David,
frightened at the sudden aerial ascension, uttered a howl. Isaiah
dropped the basket as if it was red hot.

"What in tunket!" he exclaimed.

"Nothin' but a cat," explained the Captain. "'Twon't hurt you."

"A cat! What--whose cat?"

"Mine," said Mary-'Gusta, running to the rescue. "He's a real good cat.
He ain't cross; he's scared, that's all. Honest, he ain't cross. Are
you, David?"

David howled and clawed at the cover of the basket. Mr. Chase backed
away.

"A cat!" he repeated. "You fetched a cat--here?"

"Sartin we fetched it." Captain Shadrach was evidently losing patience.
"Did you think we'd fetch an elephant? Now get out them--them doll
babies and things."

Isaiah stared at the dolls. Mary-'Gusta stopped patting the basket and
hastened to the side of the buggy. "I'll take the dollies," she said.
"They're mine, too."

A moment later they entered the house. Mary-'Gusta bore three of the
dolls. Mr. Hamilton carried the other two, and Isaiah, with the valise
in one hand and the basket containing the shrieking David at arm's
length in the other, led the way. Captain Shad, after informing them
that he would be aboard in a jiffy, drove on to the barn.

The room they first entered was the kitchen. It was small, rather
untidy, and smelt strongly of fish and the fried potatoes.

"Come right along with me, Mary-'Gusta," said Zoeth. "Fetch the satchel,
Isaiah."

"Hold on," shouted the perturbed "cook and steward." "What--what in the
nation will I do with this critter?"

The "critter" was David, who was appar