ot converted and j'ined the church. That was all right, only while
the fit was fresh he pledged himself to give five hundred dollars to
help build the new chapel. When he cooled down a little he was sorry,
and every time they'd hint at his comin' down with the cash, he'd back
and fill, and put it off for a spell. When the Land Company went up he
was the only happy one in town, 'cause he said he'd lost all his money.
Course, under the circumstances, they couldn't ask him to pay, so he
didn't. From what I hear he lost as much as fifty dollars."

They both laughed, and Mrs. Snow was about to answer when she was
interrupted.

"Eri," said a weak voice. "Eri."

The Captain started, turned sharply, and saw the sick man watching him,
his eyes fixed and unwavering.

"Eri," said John Baxter again, "come here."

Mrs. Snow hurried to her patient, but the latter impatiently bade her
let him alone.

"Not you," he said, "I want Eri."

Captain Eri stooped down beside the bed.

"What is it, John?" he asked.

"Eri s'pose God called you to break man's law and keep his, what would
you do?"

The Captain glanced anxiously at the house-keeper. Then he said
soothingly:

"Oh, that's all right, John. Don't worry 'bout that. You and me settled
that long ago. How are you feelin' now?"

"I know, I know," with the monotonous persistence of those whose minds
are wandering,--and then cleanly once more, "Eri, I've been called."

"Ssh-h! That's all right, John; that's all right. Don't you want Mrs.
Snow to fix your piller? P'raps you'd lay a little easier, then. Now,
Mrs. Snow, if you'll jest turn it while I lift him. So; that's
better now, ain't it, shipmate, hey?" But the sick man muttered an
unintelligible something, and relapsed once more into the half-doze,
half-stupor that was his usual state.

Captain Eri sighed in relief.

"That was queer, wa'n't it?" he observed.

"He's had two or three of those spells in the last day or two," was the
answer.

The Captain wondered what his friend might have said during those
"spells," but he was afraid to inquire. Instead, he asked, "What did the
doctor say when he was here this mornin'?"

"Nothin' very hopeful. I asked him plain what he thought of the case,
and he answered jest as plain. He said Cap'n Baxter had failed dreadful
in the last week, and that he wouldn't be s'prised if he dropped off
most any time. Then again, he said he might live for months."

"I see, I see."

They wer