"Why, who in the world said he was?"

"But they took en up for dead, miss--for he'd a-swum out to the wreck,
an' then he'd a-swum back with a man 'pon his back--an' touchin' shore,
he fell downward in a swound, marvellous like to death for all to
behold. So they brought en up here, 'long wi' the chap he'd a-saved,
an' dressed en i' the spare room blankets, an' gave en clane sperrits to
drink, an' lo! he came to; an' in a minnit, lo! agen he went off; an'--"

Ruby, by this time, was half-way down the stairs. Running to the
kitchen door she flung it open, calling "Zeb! Zeb!"

But Young Zeb had fainted for the third time, and while others of the
group merely lifted their heads at her entrance, the old crowder strode
towards her with some amount of sternness on his face.

"Kape off my son!" he shouted. "Kape off my son Zebedee, and go
up-stairs agen to your prayers; for this be all your work, in a way--you
gay good-for-nuthin'!"

"Indeed, Mr. Minards," retorted Ruby, firing up under this extravagant
charge and bridling, "pray remember whose roof you're under, with your
low language."

"Begad," interposed a strange voice, "but that's the spirit for me, and
the mouth to utter it!"

Ruby, turning, met a pair of luminous eyes gazing on her with bold
admiration. The eyes were set in a cadaverous, but handsome, face; and
the face belonged to the stranger, who had recovered of his swoon, and