meeting some of the women gave their tongues free scope, especially
Mrs. Harmon, who felt keenly what Mrs. Royal had said.

"I was never so mortified and offended in all my life," she confided to
Miss Arabella, as they walked along the road together. "Just think of
her talking that way, and she a clergyman's wife, too."

"Umph!" and Miss Arabella tilted her nose higher than ever, "she talked
mighty big to-day, but she'll find out her mistake sooner than she
expects. Just think what she said about that horrid old captain, who
can't speak a civil word to any one. Why, he swears awful. I heard
him say 'dang hang it' one time, and a man who uses such language as
that is not a fit companion for a little boy."

Little did Captain Josh and Rod care what people said. Though months
had now passed into years, their friendship was as firm as ever. Happy
were they in each other's company, and many were the trips they made up
and down the river in the _Roaring Bess_. The captain had sturgeon
nets in a cove five miles away from his own shore. Twice a day he
visited these, and when Rod was on hand he went with him. The boy was
always interested in the big fish which were often caught, and when
they were sometimes tethered in the shallow water near the Anchorage he
felt sorry for the poor creatures.

"I wonder if they mind it," he once remarked to the captain. "Do you
suppose they think of their little baby sturgeons, and how they are
getting along?"

"Guess they don't bother much about it, lad," was the reply. "They
haven't enough sense fer that. They are like a lot of people who are