the supreme jurisdiction of the Federal Sea. She half turned her
back upon him, partly to show her contempt, but partly to evade the
domination of his clear, good-humored, and self-sustained little
eyes.

"I don't know anythin' about your deserters, nor what rags o'
theirs happen to be floated up here," she said, angrily, "and don't
care to. You kin do what you like."

"Then I'm afraid I should remain here a little longer, Miss
Culpepper; but my duty"--

"Your wot?" she interrupted, disdainfully.

"I suppose I AM talking shop," he said smilingly. "Then my
business"--

"Your business--pickin' up half-starved runaways!"

"And, I trust, sometimes a kind friend," he suggested, with a grave
bow.

"You TRUST? Look yer, young man, she said, with her quick, fierce,
little laugh, "I reckon you TRUST a heap too much!" She would like
to have added, "with your freckled face, red hair, and little
eyes"--but this would have obliged her to face them again, which
she did not care to do.

Calvert stepped back, lifted his hand to his cap, still pleasantly,
and then walked gravely along the gallery, down the steps, and