"I'll listen to nothin'--"

"Will you, please? It's not all my fault. She
ought to have kept out of my way--"

"Stop! Take that back! You'd blame HER,
would ye--a child just out of school, and as innocent
as a baby? By God, you'll do right by her
or you'll never set foot inside my house again!"

Bart faced his father again.

"I want to tell you the whole story before you
judge me. I want to--"

"You'll tell me nothin'! Will you act square
with her?"

"I must tell you first. You wouldn't understand
unless--"

"You won't? That's what you mean--you mean
you WON'T! Damn ye!" The captain raised his
clenched fist, quivered for an instant as if struggling
against something beyond his control, dropped
it slowly to his side and whirling suddenly, strode
back up the beach.

Bart staggered back against the planking, threw
out his hand to keep from falling, and watched his