"Never fear," said Will. "I think I have sold my berth for mighty
little."

Hester rose from her place by the fire. She began to pour the boiling
water into her little cracked teapot, and now she placed it on the hob
to draw.

"What floors me, Will, is this," she said,--"how did a fellow like
Dent come by so much money? Ef there is a ne'er-do-well it's Dent; and
I want to know how he come by a lot of money like that."

"I can't tell you," replied Will. "I suppose he was well paid after
his last voyage. He's a prime seaman, whatever else he ain't. He'd a
bit of gold or two in his pocket, and some silver besides the
notes--yes, now I come to think of it, he was remarkably flush of coin
for a chap like him."

"Well, you hold by the notes, Will, and don't change them afore you
need. I suppose you'll be looking out for another berth now you have
lost that in the 'Good Queen Anne'?"

"All in good time, Hester. I mean to wed Bet Granger first,"



"But you can't, Will, if the girl has no mind to have you."

"I mean to wed her," replied Will, in a dogged, resolute sort of voice.
"Ef she has a heart--and I know she has a heart--she shall give it to
me; and she shall love me, yes, as well--as well as I love her. Why,