"Whew!" he whistled. "So she was the one. Well, I swan!"

Zoeth stroked the child's hair.

"That's all right, dearie," he said. "Now don't you worry about that.
We didn't know who did it, but now we do and it's all right. We know you
didn't mean to."

"Won't--won't he knock my head off?"

"No, no, course he won't. Tell her so, Shadrach."

Captain Shadrach pulled at his beard. Then he burst into a laugh.

"I won't hurt you for nothin', sis," he said, heartily. "It's all right
and don't you fret about it. Accidents will happen even in the best
regulated--er--funerals; though," with a broad grin, "I hope another one
like that'll never happen to ME. Now don't you cry any more."

Mary-'Gusta raised her head and regarded him steadily.

"Won't I be put in jail?" she asked, more hopefully.

"Indeed you won't. I never put anybody in jail in my life; though," with
an emphatic nod, "there's some folks ought to go there for frightenin'
children out of their senses. Did that Mrs. Hobbs tell you I was goin'
to--what was it?--knock your head off and all the rest?"

"Yes, sir, she did."