"Humph!" ejaculated the woman.

Oh, it was a woman, Louise could now see, although Betty Gallup boasted
a pronounced mustache and a voice both deep and hoarse, while she
looked every inch the able seaman she was.

"Humph!" she exclaimed again. "You don't look much like a pirate,
that's one comfort!"

Louise burst into gay laughter--she could not help it.

"I see by this letter Cap'n Abe left for me that you're his niece--his
ha'f sister's child--name, Louise Grayling; and that you've come to
stay a spell."

"Yes," the girl rejoined, still dimpling. "And I know you must be Mrs.
Gallup!"

"Bet Gallup. Yep. Ain't much chance of mistaking me," the woman said,
still staring at Louise. "Humph! you're pretty 'nough not to need
m'lasses to ketch flies. Why didn't Cap'n Abe stay to home when you
come visiting him?"

"Why, he had his plans all laid to go away, if Uncle Amazon came."

"Ya-as. That's so. You are _his_ niece, too, I s'pose."

"Whose niece? Uncle Amazon's? I suppose I am," Louise gayly replied,
"though when I came I had no idea there was a second uncle down here on
the Cape."