the hollow of His hand.' Go on, Minister. The lady thought my little
Star, as the Lord dropped out of the hollow of His hand into my arms
ten year ago, had a look of her sister."

"She was so strongly impressed by it," the minister continued,
quietly, "that, failing to attract Peet's attention as he rowed away,
she sent for the captain, and begged him to give her all the
information he could about the child. What she heard moved her so
deeply that she became convinced of the child's identity with her
sister's lost infant. As soon as Peet returned after putting Star
ashore, she questioned him even more closely. He, good fellow, refused
to commit himself to anything which he fancied you might not like,
but he told her of my having performed the last rites over the mortal
remains of the child's parents, and Mr. Morton wisely counselled her
to go at once to me, instead of coming here, as she at first wished
to do. After my interview with her, I am bound to say--"

"Easy now, Minister!" interrupted Captain January. "I'm an old man,
though I never knowed it till this day. Easy with this part!"

"I am bound to say," continued the minister, laying his hand kindly
on his companion's arm, "that I think there is little doubt of Star's
being Mrs. Morton's niece."

"And what if she be?" exclaimed the old sailor, turning with a sudden
violence which made the gentle minister start back in alarm. "What
if she be? what have the lady done for her niece? Did she take her
out o' the sea, as raged like all the devils let loose, and death
itself a-hangin' round and fairly howlin' for that child? did she
stand on that rock, blind and deef and e'ena'most mazed with the