“You must have tripped on something, Sam’l, as you were running,” she remarked.  “It’s a wonder you weren’t killed.  I hope to goodness you won’t get cold.  Why, you were soaked to the skin.”

“An’ I might have been struck with lightnin’, Martha.  Jist think of that.”

“Indeed you might.  Or you might have broken your leg.”

“Or cracked me rib,” the captain growled.  “But I didn’t, so what’s the use of worryin’ about things that didn’t happen.  I’m here, with nuthin’ worse than a sprained ankle.  You an’ Flo had better go to bed.  I’m all right now.  I want to stay right by this winder, so’s I kin see the river as soon as it gits light enough.  I’m anxious to know whar the ‘Eb an’ Flo’ is aground.  She must be hard on by this time.  Wonder how Eben’s makin’ out.”

“The poor boy must be greatly worried, Sam’l.  Maybe he’ll come home before morning.”

“Mebbe he will, Martha.  I never thought of that.  But he’ll not worry about the loss of the boat.  Most likely he’ll be glad, fer he doesn’t take much to the water.  I don’t know what we’re goin’ to do with that boy.”

“But what will you do without the boat, Sam’l?  It’s our only means of living, and with that gone we’ll starve.”

“Oh, I guess we’ll pull through somehow.  I’ll git the boat afloat when her load’s taken off, if she isn’t too hard an’ fast on them mud flats.  My, it was sartinly some gale last night!  I’ve been boatin’ on this river fer over twenty-five years, an’ I never saw anything like it.  I thought mebbe you an’ Flo intended to stay at the Hamptons all night.  It was mighty lucky fer me, though, that ye didn’t.”

“Mrs. Hampton coaxed us to stay, but I wanted to get home.  I had a peculiar feeling that something was the matter.”

“An’ didn’t ye have a more peculiar feelin’, Martha, when ye heard me yell?  I imagined at first that ye didn’t hear me.”

“I really thought it was a dog howling, Sam’l.  It was Flo who said it was a man calling for help.  I then knew that it must be you.  My, we had a job getting you to the house.  We never could have done it if John hadn’t been with us.”

“It’s a wonder he could leave his sweetheart long enough to come with ye, Martha.  Did ye find out anything more about her?”

“Nothing.  Mrs. Hampton banged on the piano, while John and the girl sang until my head ached.  I believe they did it so I wouldn’t ask any more questions.  I really think there is something mysterious about Miss Bean.  What was she doing at the quarry?  How did she happen to get hurt?  And how did John come to get so well acquainted with her?  Mark my word, I shall find out all about her.”