ItwasnotCaptainPerez，butMr。Mayohimself，astheysawwhentherubberblanketfastenedacrossthefrontofthebuggywasdroppedandthedriversprangout。Mrs。Snowopenedthedoorforhim。”Hello，Abner！”exclaimedCaptainJerry，asthenewcomerstoppedtoknockthesnowfromhisbootsbeforecomingin，”whathaveyoudonetoPerez？Goin’tokeephimforasteadyboarder？”
ButMr。Mayohadimportantnewstocommunicate，andhedidnotintendtolosetheeffectofhissensationbyspringingitwithoutduepreparation。Hetookoffhishatandmittensandsolemnlydeclinedaprofferedchair。”Cap’nBurgess，”hesaid，”I’vegotsomethin’totellyou——
somethin’awful。Thewholelife-savin’crewbutoneisdrownded，andCap’nEriHedge——”
AnexclamationfromMrs。Snowinterruptedhim。Thehousekeeperclaspedherhandstogethertightlyandsankintoachair。Shewasverywhite。Elsierantoher。”Whatisit，Mrs。Snow？”sheasked。”Nothin’，nothin’！Goon，Mr。Mayo。Goon！”
Thebearerofill-tidings，gratifiedattheresultofhisfirstattempt，proceededdeliberately:”AndCap’nHedgeandLutherDavisareoveratthestationprettynighdead。Ifitwa’n’tfortheCap’n，Luther’dhavegone，too。
Eritookadoryandwentoffandpickedhimup。Perezcomeovertomyhouseandtoldusaboutit，andPashy’sgonebackwithhimtoseetoherbrother。Ididn’tgodowntothestorethismornin’，’twasstormin’so，butassoonasIheardIharnesseduptocomeandtellyou。”
Then，inanswertothehurriedquestionsofCaptainJerryandElsie，Mr。Mayotoldthewholestoryasfarasheknewit。Mrs。
Snowsaidnothing，butsatwithherhandsstillclaspedinherlap。”Lutherisha’fdrowndedandfroze，”concludedAbner，”andtheCap’ngotabangwithanoarwhentheyjumpedoutofthedorythat，Perezisafraid，brokehisarm。I’mgoin’rightbacktogitDr。
Palmer。Theytriedtotelephonehim，butthewire’sdown。””Dear！dear！dear！”exclaimedCaptainJerry，completelydemoralizedbythenews。”That’sdreadful！Imustgorightdownthere，mustn’tI？Thepoorfellers！”
Mrs。Snowrosetoherfeetquietly，butwithadeterminedair。”Areyougoin’rightbacksoon’syou’vegottheDoctor，Mr。Mayo？”
sheasked。”Why，no，Iwa’n’t。Iain’tbeentomystorethismornin’，andI’m’fraidIoughttobethere。”
Tobefrank，Abnerwastoogreatasensationlovertoforfeittheopportunityofspringinghisstartlingnewsonthecommunity。”Then，Josiah，you’llhavetoharnessDan’landtakemedown。I
mustn’twaitanotherminute。””Why，Mrs。Snow！”expostulatedCaptainJerry，”youmustn’tgodownthere。TheDoctor’sgoin’，andI’llgo，andPashy’stherealready。”
Butthehousekeepermerelywavedhimaside。”IwantyoutostayherewithElsie，”shesaid。”There’snotellin’howlongImaybegone。Josiah’lldrivemedown，won’tyou，Josiah？”
Therewasnolackofenthusiasminthe”ableseaman’s”answer。Theboywasonlytoogladofthechance。”Butitain’tfitweatherforyoutobeoutin。You’llgitsoakin’
wet。””IguessifPashyDaviscanstandit，Ican。Elsie，willyoucomeandhelpmegitready，whileJosiah’sharnessin’？”
Astheyenteredthechamberabove，Elsiewasthunderstrucktoseehercompanionseatherselfintherockerandcoverherfacewithherhands。Ifithadbeenanyoneelseitwouldnothavebeensoastonishing，butthecool，self-possessedhousekeeper——shecouldscarcelybelieveit。”Why，Mrs。Snow！”sheexclaimed，”whatISit？”
TheladyfromNantuckethastilyroseandwipedhereyeswithherapron。”Oh，nothin’，”sheanswered，withanattemptatasmile。”I’mkindoffidgetythismornin’，andthewaythatmanstartedofftotellhisyarnupsetme；that’sall。Imustn’tbesuchafool。”
Shesetaboutgettingreadywithavimandattentiontodetailthatprovedthather”fidgets”hadnotaffectedhercommon-sense。Shewaspaleandherhandstrembledalittle，butshetookacoveredbasketandpackedinitclothforbandages，ahot-waterbottle，mustard，abottleofliniment，andnumerousotherthingslikelytobeofuse。Lastofall，sheaddedabottleofwhiskythathadbeenprescribedasastimulantforJohnBaxter。”Is’posesomefolkswouldthink’twasterriblecarryin’thiswithme，”sheobserved。”Awomanpitchedintomeonceforgivin’ittoherhusbandwhenhewassick。ItoldherIdidn’tfavorRHUBARBasasteadydrink，butIhopedIknewenoughtogiveitwhen’twasnecessary。”
RalphandCaptainPerezweresurprisedmenwhenthehousekeeper，dripping，butcheerful，appearedonthescene。SheandJosiahhadhadastormypassageonthewaydown，fortheeasy-goingDanielhadobjectedtobeingaskedtotrotthroughdrifts，andMrs。Snowhadinsistedthatheshouldbemadetodoit。Thefordwasoutofthequestion，sotheystalledtheoldhorseintheMayobarnandborrowedAbner’sdorytomakethecrossing。
Mrs。Snowtookchargeatonceofthetiredmen，andtheovertaxedMissPatiencewasgladenoughtohaveherdoit。LutherDaviswasinbed，andCaptainEri，afteranhour’ssojourninthesamesnugharbor，hadutterlyrefusedtostaytherelonger，andnow，dressedinasuitbelongingtothecommandant，wasstretcheduponasofainthefrontroom。
TheCaptainwasthemostsurprisedofallwhenMrs。Snowappeared。
Hefairlygaspedwhenshefirstenteredtheroom，andseemedtobestruckspeechless，forhesaidscarcelyawordwhileshedosedhimwithhotdrinks，rubbedhisshoulder——thebonewasnotbroken，buttherewasabruisethereasbigasasaucer——withtheliniment，andmadehimgenerallycomfortable。Hewatchedhereverymovementwithasortofworshipfulwonder，andseemedtobethinkinghard。
CaptainDavis，althoughfeelingalittlebetter，wasstillveryweak，andhissisterandCaptainPerezwerewithhim。JosiahsoonreturnedtotheMayohomesteadtoactasferrymanforDr。Palmerwhenthelattershouldarrive，andRalph，findingthattherewasnothingmorethathecoulddo，wentbacktothecablestation。Thestormhadabatedsomewhatandthewindhadgonedown。CaptainEriandMrs。Snowwerealoneinthefrontroom，and，forthefirsttimesincesheenteredthehouse，theladyfromNantucketsatdowntorest。ThentheCaptainspoke。”Mrs。Snow，”hesaidgravely，”Idon’tbelieveyou’vechangedyourclothessenceyougothere。Youmusthavebeensoakedthrough，too。Iwishyouwouldn’ttakesuchrisks。Youhadn’toughttohavecomeoverhereadaylikethis，anyway。NotbutwhattheLordknowsit’sgoodtohaveyouhere，”headdedhastily。
Thehousekeeperseemedsurprised。”Cap’nEri，”shesaid，”Ib’lieveifyouwasdyin’you’dworryforfearsomebodyelsewouldn’tbecomf’tablewhileyouwasdoingit。
’Twouldbeprettyhardformetochangemyclothes，”sheadded，withalaugh，”seein’thatthereprobablyain’tanythingbutmen’sclothesintheplace。”Then，withasigh，”Poorfellers，theywon’tneed’emanymore。””That’sso。Andtheywereallaliveandheartythismornin’。It’sanawfulthingforLuther。Hashetoldanythingyit’bouthowitcometohappen？””Yes，alittle。TheschoonerwasfromMaine，boundtoNewYork。
BesidesherowncrewshehadsomeItaliansaboard，coal-handlers，theywas，goin’overonajobfortheowner。Cap’nDavissayshesawrightawaythatthelifeboatwouldbeoverloaded，buthehadtotake’emall，therewa’n’ttimeforasecondtrip。Hemadetheschooner’screwandtheotherslaydownintheboatwheretheywouldn’thinderthemenattheoars，butwhentheygotjestatthetailoftheshoal，wheretheseawasheaviest，themItalianslosttheirheadsandcommencedtostandupandyell，andfustthingyouknow，sheswungbroadsideonandcapsized。PashysaysLutherdon’tsaymuchmore，butshejedges，fromwhathedoessay，thatsomeofthemenhungonwithhimforawhile，butwaswashedoffanddrownded。””That’sright；therewasfourorfivetherewhenwesawherfust。
’TwasLute’sgriponthecenterboardthatsavedhim。It’sanawfulthing——awful！””Yes，andhewouldhavegone，too，ifithadn’tbeenforyou。AndyoutalkaboutMYtakin’risks！””Well，Jerryhadn’toughttohaveletyoucome。””LETmecome！Ishouldliketohaveseenhimtrytostopme。Theidea！WherewouldIbeif’twa’n’thelpin’you，afterallyou’vedoneforme？””I’VEdone？Ihaven’tdoneanything！””You’vemademehappier’nI’vebeenforyears。You’vebeensokindthat——that——”
Shestoppedandlookedoutofthewindow。”It’syouthat’sbeenkind，”saidtheCaptain。”You’vemadeahomeforme；somethin’Iain’thadaforesenceIwasaboy。”
Mrs。Snowwentonasifhehadnotspoken。”Andtothinkthatyoumighthavebeendrowndedthesameastherest，”shesaid。”Iknewsomethin’washappenin’。Ijestfeltit，somehow。ItoldElsieIwassureofit。Icouldn’tthinkofanythingbutyoualltheforenoon。”
TheCaptainsatuponthecouch。”Marthy，”hesaidinanawedtone，”doyouknowwhatIwasthinkin’
ofwhenIwaspullin’throughthewustofitthismornin’？Iwasthinkin’ofyou。IthoughtofLutherandtherestofthempoorsouls，ofcourse，butIthoughtofyoumostofthetime。Itkeptcomin’backtomethatifIwentunderIshouldn’tseeyouag’in。
Andyouwasthinkin’ofme！””Yes，whenthatMayomansaidhehadawfulnews，Ifeltsure’twasyouhewasgoin’totellabout。IneverfaintedawayinmylifethatIknowof，butIthinkI’mostfaintedthen。””Andyoucaredasmuchasthat？””Yes。”
Somehowbothwerespeakingquietly，butasifitwasuselesslongertokeepbackanything。Tospeaktheexacttruthwithoutreserveseemedthemostnaturalthingintheworld。”Well，well，well！”saidtheCaptainreverently，andstillinthesamelowtone。”IsaidonceaforethatIb’lievedyouwassenthere，andnowI’msureofit。ItseemsalmostasifyouwassenttoME，don’tit？”
Thehousekeeperstilllookedoutofthewindow，butsheansweredsimply，”Idon’tknow。””Itdoes，itdoesso。Marthy，we’vebeenhappytogetherwhileyou’vebeenhere。Doyoub’lieveyoucouldbehappywithmealways——ifyoumarriedme，Imean？”
Mrs。Snowturnedandlookedathim。Thereweretearsinhereyes，butshedidnotwipethemaway。”Yes，”shesaid。”Thinknow，Marthy。Iain’tveryyoung，andIain’tveryrich。””WhatamI？”withalittlesmile。”Andyoureallythinkyoucouldbehappyifyouwasthewifeofanoldcodgerlikeme？””Yes。”Theanswerwasshort，butitwasconvincing。
CaptainErirosetohisfeet。”Gosh！”hesaidinasortofunbelievingwhisper。”Marthy，areyouwillin’totry？”
AndagainMrs。Snowsaid”Yes。”
WhenDr。PalmercamehefoundLutherDavisstillinbed，butCaptainEriwasupanddressed，andtherewassuchaquietairofhappinessabouthimthatthemanofmedicinewasamazed。”GoodLord，man！”heexclaimed，”Iexpectedtofindyouflatonyourback，andyoulookbetterthanI’veseenyouforyears。
Takingasalt-waterbathinmid-wintermustagreewithyou。””Itain’tsomuchthat，”repliedtheCaptainserenely。”It’sthepayIgotfortakin’it。”
WhentheDoctorsawPerezalone，heaskedthelattertokeepaclosewatchonCaptainEri’sbehavior。HesaidhewasafraidthattheexertionandexposuremighthaveaffectedtheCaptain’sbrain。
Perez，alarmedbythiscaution，didwatchhisfriendveryclosely，buthesawnothingtofrightenhimuntil，astheywereabouttostartforhome，CaptainErisuddenlystruckhisthigharesoundingslap”Jerry！”hegroaneddistressfully。”Icleanforgot。I’vegonebackonJerry！”
CHAPTERXXI”DIME-SHOWBUS’NESS”
ElsieandCaptainJerrywerekeptbusythatafternoon。AbnerMayo’snewsspreadquickly，andpeoplegatheredatthepost-office，thestores，andthebilliardroomtodiscussit。Someofthemen，notably”Cy”Warnerand”Rufe”Smith，localrepresentativesofthebigBostondailies，hurriedofftothelife-savingstationtogetthefactsatfirsthand。OtherscamedowntotalkwithCaptainJerryandElsie。MelissaBusteed’sshawlwasonhershouldersandher”cloud”wastiedaboutherheadinlessthantwominutesafterhernext-doorneighborshoutedthestoryacrossthebackyards。
Shehadjustleftthehouse，andCaptainJerrywasdeliveringasarcasticspeechconcerning”talkin’machines，”whenDanielploddedthroughthegate，drawingthebuggycontainingJosiah，Mrs。Snow，andCaptainEri。
Foramanwhohadbeendescribedas”half-dead，”CaptainErilookedverywell，indeed。Jerryrantohelphimfromthecarriage，buthejumpedouthimselfandthenassistedthehousekeepertoalightwithanairofproudproprietorship。Hewaswelcomedtothehouselikeareturnedprodigal，andCaptainJerryshookhiswellhanduntilthearmbelongingtoitseemedlikelytobecomeasstiffandsoreastheother。WhilethishandshakingwasgoingonCaptainEriwasembarrassed。Hedidnotlookhisfriendintheface，andmostofhisconversationwasaddressedtoElsie。
Assoonashehadwarmedhishandsandtoldthestoryofthewreckandrescue，hesaid，”Jerry，comeuptomyroomaminute，won’tyou？I’vegotsomethin’Iwanttosay。”
Vaguelywonderingwhattheprivateconversationmightbe，Jerryfollowedhisfriendupstairs。Whentheywereintheroom，CaptainEriclosedthedoorandfacedhiscompanion。Hewasconfused，andstammeredalittle，ashesaid，”Jerry，I’ve——I’vegotsomethin’tosaytoyou’boutMrs。Snow。”
ThenitwasCaptainJerry’sturntobeconfused。”Now，Eri，”heprotested，”’tain’tfairtokeeppesterin’melikethis。IknowIain’tsaidnothin’toheryit，butI’mgoin’to。I
hadaweek，anyhow，anditain’tha’fover。Landsake！”heburstforth，”d’yous’poseIain’tbeenthinkin’’boutit？Iain’tthoughtofnothin’else，hardly。IbetyouI’vebeenoverthewholethingeverynightsencewehadthattalk。IgooveritandGOoverit。I’vethoughtofmore’namillionwaystoaskher，butthereain’toneof’emthatsuitsme。IfIwasgoin’tobehung’twouldn’tbenoworse，andnowyou’vegottokeepa-naggin’。Letmealonetillmytimeisup，can’tyou？””Iwa’n’tnaggin’。Iwasjestgoin’totellyouthatyouwon’thavetoask。I’vebeentalkin’tohermyself，and——”
Thesacrificesprangoutofhischair。”EriHedge！”heexclaimedindignantly。”Ithoughtyouwasafriendofmine！IgiveyoumywordI’ddoitinaweek，andtheleastyoucouldhavedone，seemstome，wouldhavebeentowaitandgivemethechance。Butno！allyouthink’bout’syourself。So’fraidshe’dsaynoandyou’dloseyouroldhousekeeper，wa’n’tyou？Theidea！ShemustthinkI’magoodone——can’tdomyowncourtin’，andhavetogitsomebodytodoitforme！Whatdidshesay？”heaskedsuddenly。”ShesaidyestowhatIaskedher，”wasthereplywithahalfsmile。
UponCaptainJerry’sfacesettledthelookofonewhoacceptsthemelancholyinevitable。Hesatdownagain。”Is’posedshewould，”hesaidwithasigh。”She’sknownmeforquiteaspellnow，andshe’shadachancetoseewhatkindofamanIbe。Well，whatelsedidyoudo？Ain’tsettledtheweddin’day，haveyou？”Thiswithmarkedsarcasm。”Notyit。Jerry，you’vemadeamistake。Ididn’taskherforyou。””Didn’taskher——didn’t——Whatareyoutalkin’’bout，then？””Iaskedherformyself。She’sgoin’tomarryme。”
CaptainJerrywastoomuchastonishedeventogetup。Instead，hesimplysatstillwithopenmouthwhilehisfriendcontinued。”I’vecometothinkalotofMrs。Snowsenceshe’sbeenhere，”
CaptainErisaidslowly，”andI’vefoundoutthatshe’sfeltthesameway’boutme。I’vekeptstillandsaidnothin’’causeI
thoughtyououghttohavethefustchanceand，besides，Ididn’tknowhowshefelt。Butto-day，whilewewastalkin’，itallcomeoutofitself，seemsso，and——well，we’regoin’tobemarried。”
Thesacrifice——asacrificenolonger——stillsatsilent，butcuriouschangesofexpressionwerepassingoverhisface。Surprise，amazement，relief，andnowasortofgrievedresignation。”Ifeelsmallenough’boutthewayI’vetreatedyou，Jerry，”
continuedCaptainEri。”Ididn’tmeanto——butthere！it’sdone，andallIcandoissayI’msorryandthatImeanttogiveyouyourchance。Ishan’tblameyouifyougitmad，notabit；butIhopeyouwon’t。”
CaptainJerrysighed。Whenhespokeitwasinatoneofsublimeforgiveness。”Eri，”hesaid，”Iain’tmad。Iwon’tsaymyfeelin’sain’thurt，’cause——’cause——well，nevermind。Ifawifeandahomeain’tforme，whyIoughttobegladthatyou’regoin’tohave’em。Iwishyoubothluckandagoodv’yage。Now，don’ttalktomeforafewminutes。Letmegitsortofusedtoit。”
SotheyshookhandsandCaptainEri，withatroubledlookathisfriend，wentout。Afterhehadgone，CaptainJerrygotupanddancedthreestepsofanimprovisedjig，hisfaceonebroadgrin。
Then，withaneffort，hesobereddown，assumedanairofduesolemnity，andtrampeddownstairs。
IftheannouncementofCaptainPerez’engagementcausednosurprise，thatofCaptainEri’scertainlydid——surpriseandcongratulationonthepartofthoseletintothesecret，foritwasdecidedtosaynothingtooutsidersasyet。Ralphcameoverthateveningandtheytoldhimaboutit，andhewasaspleasedastherest。AsfortheCaptain，hewasonlytoowillingtoshakehandswithanyandeverybody，althoughheinsistedthatthehousekeeperhadnothingtobecongratulatedupon，andthatshewas”takin’bigchances。”Theladyherselfmerelysmiledatthis，andquietlysaidthatshewaswillingtotakethem。
Thestormhadwreckedeverywireandstalledeverytrain，andOrhamwasisolatedfortwodays。Thencommunicationwasestablishedoncemore，andtheBostondailiesreceivedthenewsofthelossofthelife-saversandthecrewoftheschooner。Andtheymadethemostofit；sensationalitemswerescarcejustthen，andtheeditorswelcomedthisone。Thebigblackheadlinesspreadhalfwayacrossthefrontpages。Therewerepicturesofthewreck，”drawnbyourartistfromdescription，”andtherewere”descriptions”ofallkinds。Specialreportersarrivedinthevillageandinterviewedeveryonetheycouldlayhandson。AbnerMayofeltthatforoncehewasreceivingtheattentionhedeserved。
Thelife-savingstationandthehousebytheshorewerebesiegedbyphotographersandnewspapermen。CaptainEriindignantlyrefusedtoposeforhisphotograph，sohewas”snapped”ashewentouttothebarn，andhadthepleasureofseeingalikenessofhimself，somewhatoutoffocus，andwithonelegstifflyelevated，intheSundayBlanket。Thereporterswaylaidhimatthepost-office，orathisfishshanty，andbeggedforinterviews。Theygotthem，briefandpointedlypersonal，and，thoughthesewerenotprinted，columnsdescribinghimas”abluff，big-heartedhero，”were。
Ifeveramanwasmadanddisgusted，thatmanwastheCaptain。Inthefirstplace，ashesaid，whathehaddonewasnothingmorethananyotherman’longshorewouldhavedone，and，secondly，itwasnobody’sbusiness。Thenagain，hesaid，andwithtruth:”Thiswholefussmakesmesick。Here’sthemfellersinthecrewbeengoin’out，seasonafterseason，takin’folksoffwrecks，andthefoolpapersneversaynothin’’boutit；buttheygooutthistime，anddon’tsavenobodyandgitdrowndedthemselves，andthey’reheroesofasudden。Ihearthey’reraisin’moneyuptoBostontogivetothewiddersandorphans。Well，that’sallright，butthey’dbetterkeeponandgittheGov’menttoraisethesal’riesofthemthat’sleftintheservice。”
Theclimaxcamewhenaflashilydressedstrangercalled，andinsisteduponseeingtheCaptainalone。Theinterviewlastedjustaboutthreeminutes。WhenMrs。Snow，alarmedbythecommotion，rushedintotheroom，shefoundCaptainEriintheactofthrowingafterthefleeingstrangertheshinysilkhatthatthelatterhadleftbehind。”Doyouknowwhatthat——thatswabwanted？”hotlydemandedtheindignantCaptain。”Hewantedmetorigupinileskinsandasou’westerandshowmyselfindimemuseums。Saidhe’dbuythatdoryofLuther’sthatIwentoutin，andshowthat’longwithme。
ItoldhimthatdorywasspreadupanddownthebeachfromheretoSetuckit，buthesaidthatdidn’tmakenodiff’rence，he’dhaveadorythereandsay’twasthereelone。Offeredmeahundreddollarsaweek，theskate！I’dgivetendollarsrightnowtotellhimtherestofwhatIhadtosay。”
AfterthistheCaptainwentfishingeveryday，andwhenathomerefusedtoseeanybodynotknownpersonally。Buttheagitationwenton，forthepapersfedtheflames，andinBostontheywereraisingapursetobuygoldwatchesandmedalsforhimandforCaptainDavis。
Shortlyafterfouro’clockoneafternoonoftheweekfollowingthatofthewreck，CaptainEriventuredtowalkuptothevillage，keepingaweathereyeoutforreportersandsmokinghispipe。Hemadeseveralstops，oneofthembeingattheschoolhousewhereJosiah，nowbackathisdesk，wasstudyingovertimetocatchupwithhisclass。
AstheCaptainwasstrollingalong，someonetouchedhimfrombehind，andheturnedtofaceRalphHazeltine。Theelectricianhadbeenaprettyregularcalleratthehouseoflate，butCaptainErihadseenbutlittleofhim，forreasonsunnecessarytostate。”Hello，Captain！”saidRalph。”Takingaconstitutional？YouwanttolookoutforWarner；Ihearhe’safteryouforanotherrescue’special。’””He’llneedsomebodytorescuehimifhecomespesterin’’roundme，”wasthereply。”Youain’tseenmydimeshowfriendnowheres，haveyou？I’dsortofliketomeetHIMagain；ourothertalkbrokeoffkindofsudden。”
Ralphlaughed，andsaidhewasafraidthatthemuseummanagerwouldn’tcometoOrhamagainverysoon。”Is’poselikelynot，”chuckledCaptainEri。”Ioughttohavekepthishat；then，maybe，he’dhavecomebackafterit。Oh，say！”headded，”I’vebeenmeanin’toaskyousomethin’。Madeupyourmind’boutthatwesternjobyit？”
Ralphshookhishead。”Notyet，”hesaidslowly。”Ishallverysoon，though，Ithink。””Kindofpuzzlin’you，isit？Notthatit’sreallyanyofmyaffairs，youunderstand。There’sonlyafewofusgoodfolksleft，asthefellersaid，andI’dhatetoseeyouleave，that’sall。””Iamnotanxioustogo，myself。Mypresentpositiongivesmeagooddealofleisuretimeforexperimentalwork——and——well，I’lltellyouinconfidence——there’sapossibilityofmybecomingsuperintendentoneofthesedays，ifIwishto。””Sho！youdon’tsay！Mr。Langleygoin’toquit？””Heisthinkingofit。Theoldgentlemanhassavedsomemoney，andhehasasisterintheWestwhoisanxioustohavehimcomeoutthereandspendtheremainderofhisdayswithher。Ifhedoes，I
canhavehisposition，Iguess。Infact，hehasbeengoodenoughtosayso。””Well，that’sprettyfine，ain’tit？Langleyain’tthemantochuckhisgoodopinionsroundlikeclamshells。Yououghttofeelproud。””IsupposeIought。”
Theywalkedonsilentlyforafewsteps，theCaptainwaitingforhiscompaniontospeak，andthelatterseemingdisinclinedtodoso。Atlengththeoldermanaskedanotherquestion。”Ist’otherjobsomuchbetter？””No。”
Silenceagain。ThenRalphsaid，”Theotherposition，Captain，isverymuchlikethisoneinsomerespects。Itwillplacemeinacountrytown，evensmallerthanOrham，wheretherearefewyoungpeople，noamusements，andnosociety，inthefashionablesenseoftheword。””Humph！Ithoughtyoudidn’tcaremuchforthemthings。””Idon’t。”
TothisenigmaticalanswertheCaptainmadenoimmediatereply。
Afteramoment，however，hesaid，slowlyandwithapparentirrelevance，”Mr。Hazeltine，Icanremembermyfathertellin’’boutafellerthatliveddownontheSouthHarnissshorewhenhewasaboy。Queeroldchaphewas，namedElihuBassett；everybodycalledhimUncleElihu。Inthemdaysallhandsdrunkmoreorlessrum，andUncleElihudrunkmore。Hehadawayofstayin’soberforaspell，andthenstartin’offonaregularjamboreeallbyhimself。
Hehadanoldflat-bottomedboatthatheusedtosail’roundin，butshebrokehermoorin’sonetimeandgotsmashedup，sohewantedtobuyanother。ShadrachWingate，Seth’sgranddad’twas，triedtofixupadickerwithhimforaboathehad。Theyagreedontheprice，andeverythingwasallright’ceptthatUncleElihustuckoutthathemusttryher’foreheboughther。”SoShadfin’llygivein，andUncleElihusailedovertoWellmouthintheboat。Heputinhistime’roundthetavernthere，andwhenhecomedowntotheboatag’in，hehadajugfulofMedfordinhishand，andprettynighasmuchofthesamestuffunderhishatches。
Hegotafloatsomehow，h’istedthesail，lashedthetillerafterafashion，tookanipoutofthejugandtumbledoverandwentfastasleep。’Twasastillnightor’twouldhavebeenthefinish。As’twasherunagroundonaflatandstucktheretillmornin’。”Nextdaybackhecomeswiththeboatallscrapedup，andsayshe，’Shewon’tdo，Shad；shedon’tkeephercourse。’”’Don’tkeephercourse，youoldfool！’bellersShad。’Andyoutightasadrumheadandsoundasleep！Thinkshecanfindherwayhomeherself？’hesays。”’Well，’saysUncleElihu，’ifshecan’tsheain’ttheboatforme。’”
Ralphlaughed。”Isee，”hesaid。”PerhapsUncleElihuwaswise。
Still，ifhewantedtheboatverymuch，hemusthavehatedtoputhertothetest。””That’sso，”assentedtheCaptain，”but’twasbettertoknowitthenthantobesorryforitafterwards。”
Bothseemedtobethinking，andneitherspokeagainuntiltheycametothegrocerystore，whereHazeltinestopped，sayingthathemustdoanerrandforMr。Langley。Theysaidgood-night，andtheCaptainturnedaway，butcamequicklybackandsaid:”Mr。Hazeltine，ifitain’ttoomuchtrouble，wouldyoumindsteppin’uptotheschoolhousewhenyou’vedoneyourerrand？I’veleftsomethin’therewithJosiah，andI’dliketohaveyougitit。
Willyou？””Certainly，”wasthereply，anditwasnotuntiltheCaptainhadgonethatRalphrememberedhedidnotknowwhathewastoget。
Whenhereachedtheschoolheclimbedthestairsandopenedthedoor，expectingtofindJosiahalone。Instead，therewasnoonetherebutElsie，whowassittingatthedesk。Shesprangupasheentered。Bothweresomewhatconfused。”Pardonme，MissPreston，”hesaid。”CaptainErisentmehere。HesaidheleftsomethingwithJosiah，andwishedmetocallforit。””Why，I’msureIdon’tknowwhatitcanbe，”repliedElsie。”Josiahhasbeengoneforsometime，andhesaidnothingtomeaboutit。””Perhapsitisinhisdesk，”suggestedRalph。”Supposewelook。”
Sotheylooked，butfoundnothingmorethantheusualassortmentcontainedinthedeskofahealthyschoolboy。Theraisedlidshutoffthelightfromthewindow，andthedesk’sinteriorwasratherdark。Theyhadtogropeinthecorners，andoccasionallytheirhandstouched。EverytimethishappenedRalphthoughtofthedecisionthathemustmakesosoon。
Hethoughtofitstillmorewhen，afterthesearchwasabandoned，Elsiesuggestedthathehelpherwithsomeproblemsthatshewaspreparingforthenextday’slaborsofthefirstclassinarithmetic。Infact，ashesatbesideher，pretendingtofigure，butreallywatchingherdaintyprofileasitmovedbackandforthbeforehiseyes，hisownparticularproblemreceivedfarmoreattentionthandidthoseoftheclass。Suddenlyhespoke:”Teacher，”hesaid，”please，mayIaskaquestion？””Youshouldholdupyourhandifyouwishpermissiontospeak，”wasthesternreply。”Pleaseconsideritheldup。””Isthequestionasimportantas’HowmanybushelsdidC。sell？’
whichhappenstobemyparticulartroublejustnow。””Itistome，certainly。”Ralphwasseriousenoughnow。”ItisaquestionthatIhavebeenwrestlingwithforsometime。Itis，shallItakethepositionthathasbeenofferedmeintheWest，orshallIstayhereandbecomesuperintendentofthestation？Thesuperintendent’splacemaybemine，Ithink，ifIwantit。”
Elsielaiddownherpencilandhesitatedforamomentbeforeshespoke。Whenshedidreplyherfacewasturnedawayfromhercompanion。”Ishouldthinkthatquestionmightbestbedecidedbycomparingthesalariesandprospectsofthetwopositions，”shesaidquietly。”Thetwopositionsaremuchalikeinoneway。Youknowwhatthelifeatthestationmeansthegreaterportionoftheyear——nocompanionsofyourownageandcondition，nosociety，noamusements。TheWesternoffermeansallthisandworse，forthesituationisthesamealltheyear。IsaythesethingsbecauseI
hopeyoumaybewillingtoconsiderthem，notfrommypointofviewsolely，butfromyours。””Frommine？””Yes。YouseeIamrecklesslydaringtohopethat，whicheverlotischosen，youmaybewillingtoshareitwithme——asmywife。
Elsie，doyouthinkyoucouldconsiderthequestionfromthatviewpoint？”
And——well——Elsiethoughtshecould。
Theconsideration——wesupposeitwastheconsideration——tooksolongthatitwasnearlydarkwhenElsieannouncedthatshesimplyMUSTgo。ItwasRalph’sdutyasagentlemantohelpherinputtingonhercoat，andthistookanastonishinglylongtime。Finallyitwasdone，however，andtheycamedownstairs。”Dearest，”saidRalph，afterthedoorwaslocked，”IforgottohaveanotherhuntforwhateveritwasthatCaptainEriwantedmetoget。”
Elsiesmiledratheroddly。”Areyousureyouhaven’tgotit？”sheaskeddemurely。”Gotit！Why——why，byGeorge，whatanumbskullIam！Theoldrascal！Ithoughttherewasatwinkleinhiseye。””Hesaidheshouldcomebackafterme。””Well，well！Blesshisheart，it’ssoundandsweetallthewaythrough。Yes，IHAVEgotit，and，what’smore，IshalltellhimthatImeantokeepit。”
ThegoldwatchesfromthepeopletotheheroesoftheOrhamwreckhavingbeendulyboughtandinscribedandthemedalsstruck，therecameupthequestionofpresentation，anditwasdecidedtoperformtheceremonyintheOrhamtownhall，andtomaketheoccasionnotable。TheCongressmanfromthedistrictagreedtomakethenecessaryspeech。TheHarnissCornetBandwastofurnishmusic。
Allpreparationsweremade，anditremainedonlytosecuretheconsentofthepartiesmostinterested，namely，CaptainEriandLutherDavis。
Andthiswasthehardesttaskofall。Bothmenatfirstflatlyrefusedtobepresent。TheCaptainsaidhemightaswellgotothedimemuseumandbedonewithit；hewasmuchobligedtotheBostonfolks，buthisownwatchwaskeepinggoodtime，andhedidn’tneedanewonebadlyenoughtomakeashowofhimselftogetit。
CaptainDavissaidverymuchthesame。
ButMissPatiencewasproudofherbrother’srisetofame，anddidn’tintendtolethimforfeitthecrowningglory。SheenlistedCaptainPerezasasupporter，andtogethertheyfinallygotLuther’sunwillingconsenttositontheplatformandbestaredatforoneevening。Meanwhile，CaptainJerry，Elsie，Ralph，andMrs。
SnowweredoingtheirbesttowinCaptainEriover。WhenLuthersurrendered，theforcesjoined，andtheCaptainthrewuphishands。”Allright，”hesaid。”OnlyIoughttobegthatdimemuseumfeller’spardon。’Tain’trighttobepartialthisway。”
Thehallwasjammedtothedoors。CaptainEri，seatedontheplatformatoneendofthehalf-circleofselectmen，localpoliticians，andminorcelebrities，lookedfromtheCongressmaninthemiddletoLutherontheotherend，andthenoutoverthecrowdedsettees。HesawMrs。Snow’spleasant，wholesomefacebeamingproudlybesideCaptainJerry’sredone。HesawCaptainPerezandMissPatiencesittingtogetherclosetothefront，andRalphandElsiealittlefurtherback。TheReverendMr。Perleywasthere；soweretheSmallsandMissAbigailMullett。MelissaBusteedwasontheveryfrontbenchwiththeboys，ofwhomJosiahwasone。The”traincommittee”wasthere——notamembermissing——
andattherearofthehall，smilingandunctuousasever，was”Web”Saunders。InspiteofhisstagefrighttheCaptaingrinnedwhenhesaw”Web。”
Mr。SolomonBangs，hisshirt-bosomcracklingwithimportance，introducedtheCongressman。Thelatter’saddresswas，sotheItemsaid，”atriumphoforatoricaleffort。”Itreallywasagoodspeech，andwhenittoucheduponthesimplesacrificeofthemenwhohadgivenuptheirlivesinthecourseofwhat，tothem，waseverydaywork，therewerestifledsobsallthroughthehall。
LutherDavis，duringthisportionoftheaddress，satwithhisbighandshadinghiseyes。Lateron，whenthespeakerwassoundingthepraisesofthemanwho”alone，forgetfulofhimself，bravedtheseaandthestormtosavehisfriends，”thosewholookedatCaptainErisawhischairhitchedback，inchbyinch，until，asthefinaloutburstcame，littlemorethanhisSundayshoeswasinsight。Hehadretired，chairandall，tothewings。
Buttheycalledhimtotheplatformagainand，amid——wequotefromtheItemoncemore——”ahurricaneofapplause，”thetwoheroeswereadornedwiththewatchesandthemedals。
Therewasasortofimpromptureceptionaftertheceremony，whenCaptainEri，withMrs。Snowonhisarm，struggledthroughthecrowdtowardthedoor。”’Twasgreat，shipmate，andyoudeservedit！”declaredmagnanimousCaptainJerry，wringinghishand。”’Tain’tha’fwhatyououghttohave，Eri，”saidCaptainPerez。”Ihaven’tsaidmuchtothankyouforsavin’Luther，”whisperedMissPatience，”butIhopeyouknowthatwebothappreciatewhatyoudoneandnever’llforgitit。”
RalphandElsiealsoshookhandswithhim，andsaidsomepleasantthings。Sodidmanyothers，Dr。Palmeramongthenumber。
Altogether，thejourneythroughthehallwasasortoftriumphalprogress。”Whew！”gaspedtheCaptain，astheycameoutintotheclearairandthemoonlight，”let’shopethat’sthelastofthedime-showbus’ness。””Eri，”whisperedMrs。Snow，”I’msoproudofyou，Idon’tknowwhattodo。”
AndthatremarkwassweetertotheCaptain’searsthanallthosethathadprecededit。
Theyturnedintotheshoreroadandwerealone。Itwasaclearwinternight，fresh，whitesnowontheground，notabreathofwind，andthefullmoonpaintinglandandseadarkblueandsilverwhite。Thesurfsoundedfaintandfaroff。Somewhereinthedistanceadogwasbarking，andthroughthestillnesscameanoccasionallaughorshoutfromthepeoplegoinghomefromthehall。”Lotsofthingscanhappeninafewmonths，can’tthey？”saidMrs。
Snow，glancingattheblackshadowoftheshutteredBaxterhomestead。”Theycanso，”repliedtheCaptain。”Thinkwhat’shappenedsencelastSeptember。Ididn’tknowyouthen，andnowitseems’sifI’dalwaysknownyou。Johnwasalivethen，andElsienorRalphhadn’tcome。Perezhadn’tmetPashyneither。My！my！Everybody’schoosedpartnersbutJerry，”hechuckled，”andJerrylookedthemostlikelycandidate’longatthebeginnin’。I’mglad，”headded，”thatRalph’smadeuphismindtostayhere。Weshan’tlosehimnorElsieforafewyears，anyhow。”
Theypausedattheknollbythegate。”Fairdayto-morrer，”observedtheCaptain，lookingupatthesky。”Ihopeit’llbefairweatherforustherestofourdays，”saidMrs。Snow。”You’veHADitroughenough，that’ssure。Well，Ihopeyou’llhaveasmoothv’yage，now。”
TheladyfromNantucketlookedupintohisfacewithahappylaugh。”IguessIshall，”shesaid。”IknowI’vegotagoodpilot。”
End