"
"There!" Captain Elisha slapped his knee. "There, Jim!" he exclaimed,
"you hear that? Now you've GOT to read it. Anchor's apeak! Heave ahead
and get under way."
So, because he could not well refuse, the author reluctantly began
to read. And, as usual, his nautical friend to interrupt and comment.
Caroline listened, her eyes twinkling. When the reading and the
arguments were at an end, she declared it was all splendid; "Just like
being at sea one's self," she said. "I positively refuse to permit
another installment to be submitted unless I am--on deck. That's the
proper phrase, isn't it, Captain?"
"Aye, aye, ma'am! Jim, we've shipped a new second mate, and she's goin'
to be wuth her salt. You hear ME!"
She proved to be worth all of that, at least in Pearson's opinion. His
calls and the readings and discussions became more and more frequent.
Each of the trio enjoyed them greatly, Caroline quite as much as the
others. Here was something new and fresh, something to furnish a real
interest. The story advanced rapidly, the character of the nautical hero
shaped itself better and better, and the heroine, also, heretofore a
somewhat shadowy and vague young woman, began to live and breathe.
She changed surprisingly, not only in mental but in physical
characteristics.
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