d
his sleeve. "How wet you are, still," she said, compassionately. "I had
forgotten that you must have been uncomfortable after your capsize in
the bay. Perhaps it is not too late to change your clothes. You will
find some of Eben's in the next room. Shall I lay them out for you?"

He smiled when she touched him, a bright, warm smile, that took away ten
years of his age; but he did not move.

"No," said he, "it's no use now, to put on dry clothes. It won't hurt me
to be wet; I'm used to it; but I shall be sorry when this cheerful fire
is out."

He had hardly spoken, when a blast struck the house, more terrific than
any that had gone before it, and a narrow crack became visible between
the hearth-stone and the floor, through which the water oozed in quite
rapidly. Mrs. Smiley's face blanched.

"That started the house a leetle," said Chillis, lighting his lantern by
the fire.

"Could we get to the landing, do you think?" asked Mrs. Smiley,
springing instinctively to the lounge, where the child lay in a
half-slumber.

"Not afore the tide begins to run out. Ef it was daylight, we might, by
keepin' out o' the channel; but the best we can do now is to stick to
the place we're in as long as it holds together, or keeps right side up.
When we can't stay no longer, we'll take to the boat."

"I believe you know best, Mr. Chillis; but it's frightful waiting for
one's house to float away from under one's feet, or fall about one's
head. And the tide, too! I have always feared and hated the tides, they
have been a horror to me ever since I came here. It seems so dreadful to
have the earth slowly sinking into the sea; for that is the way it
appears to do, you know."

"Yes, I remember hearin' you say you were nervous about the tides, once,
when I called here to see your husband. Curious, that I often thought o'
that chance sayin' o' yours, isn't it?"

Mrs. Smiley's reply was a smothered cry of terror, as another
blast--sudden, strong, protracted--pushed the house still further away
from the fire-place, letting the storm in at the opening; for it was
from that direction that the wind came.

"Now she floats!" exclaimed Chillis. "We'll soon know whether she's
seaworthy or not. I had better take a look at my boat, I reckon; for
that's our last resort, in case your ark is worthless, Mrs. Smiley." He
laughed softly, and stepped more vigorously than he had done, as the
danger grew more certain.

"All right yet--cable not parted;