“But suppose Eben should take matters into his own hands?” Jess queried.  “You may think you can control him, but you cannot tell how soon he may slip from your grasp.  Would it not be better to hold his affections by helping him in every way you can?  I wish I could see your wife and daughter.  I feel quite sure that I could make them see the matter in a different light.  Perhaps I could change their minds.”

“Mebbe ye could, Miss,” and the captain gave a deep sigh.  “But I can’t hold out much hope.  If ye knew ’em as well as I do, ye wouldn’t feel very sure, let me tell ye that.  An’ besides, Miss, I don’t think ye’ll ever see ’em, anyway, not on this craft.”

“I won’t!” The expression in the girl’s eyes showed her surprise.  “Why, I thought we would be at your home to-day, and that I would surely meet them.”

“Yes, we’ll be at me home, all right,” and the captain’s face grew serious.  “We’ll see it, but we won’t stop.  Oh, no, it would be all up with me if Martha an’ Flo should catch you here.  We’ll jist give ’em the go-by to-day, an’ it’ll be the fust time I’ve ever done sich a thing.  I’ve been allus mighty glad to git home, even fer a few minutes.”

“Captain, are you really afraid of your wife and daughter?” the girl asked.  “Wouldn’t it be very easy to explain how I came on this boat, and that it wasn’t your fault at all?”

“I wouldn’t git a chance to explain, Miss.  Ye see, Martha an’ Flo are fine women when it comes to cookin’, lookin’ after the house, an’ sich things.  But when it comes to the question of other women, an’ ‘specially one who has run away from home, an’ can’t give a reasonable account of herself, well, that’s different.”

“Oh, I see!” The girl caught her breath, and her face flushed.  “They might think I’m not exactly straight; is that it?”

“Mebbe they might, an’ that would make it hard fer me an’ Eben.”

“But won’t they listen to reason, Captain?  Surely they will believe you and your son.”

“They might, Miss, but I don’t like to face ’em.  I’m no coward when it comes to runnin’ this craft in a nasty gale, or doin’ something extry risky; but I do wilt right down before Martha an’ Flo when their ginger’s up.  Why, a man hasn’t a ghost of a chance with them women.  They’re a wonder, an’ no mistake.”

“Then what do you intend to do?”

“Do!  Why, thar’s only one thing to do in sich a case, an’ that is to give ’em the go-by, an’ then git clear of you.  As soon as we reach the quarry you’ll have to light out.  I hate to say it, Miss, but thar’s too much at stake fer me to keep ye on board any longer.  I should have sent ye away before this, but ye wouldn’t go, so what was I to do?”

“I am really sorry that I have given you so much trouble,” the girl apologised.  “I am very grateful for what you have already done, and as soon as I reach the quarry I shall leave you at once.  I know I have placed you in a most embarrassing position.”