pale and leaned back in his chair. Shadrach's mouth opened and closed
several times, but he said nothing.

"Of course," went on Baxter, "before I say any more I think you should
be told this: It was Captain Hall's wish that you jointly accept the
guardianship of Mary-'Gusta--of the girl--that she live with you and
that you use whatever money comes to her from her stepfather's estate
in educating and clothing her. Also, of course, that a certain sum each
week be paid you from that estate as her board. That was Marcellus's
wish; but it is a wish, nothing more. It is not binding upon you in any
way. You have a perfect right to decline and--"

Captain Shadrach interrupted.

"Heave to!" he ordered, breathlessly. "Come up into the wind a minute,
for mercy sakes! Do you mean to say that me and Zoeth are asked to
take that young-one home with us, and take care of her, and dress her,
and--and eat her, and bring her up and--and--"

He paused, incoherent in his excitement. The Judge nodded.

"Yes," he replied, "that is what he asks you to do. But, as I say, you
are not obliged to do it; there is no legal obligation. You can say no,
if you think it best."

"If we think--for thunder sakes, Baxter, what was the matter with
Marcellus? Was he out of his head? Was he loony?"

"No, he was perfectly sane."