Page:Anderson--Isle of seven moons.djvu/31

Rh fish. Captain Fairwinds continued, though a little more gently:

"If we hadn't weathered so many storms together, my old friend, I'd"

"If you want to weather any more, you'll not give me any more opinions on this head, Captain Brent."

Now the latter's own formality with Benjamin had been merely jocular, this was ominous. His eyes narrowed, and his mouth snapped to bob-stay tautness. The argument had always ended that way, Hiram was hopeless!

All women attached to domineering men very early learn patience and tact, also its first principle,—that the sure Northwest Passage to the sunny Orient of a man's "cussed nature" lies directly through an old canal, called the Alimentary.

She said something about "supper," aiming a wink at Captain Harve—a maneuver quite significant of her difference in attitude towards the two old men. It was further noticeable when she placed an affectionate hand on a shoulder of each. With her father, as with Ben, she seemed almost maternal; when she leaned against her godfather she at once slipped back into the child.

Meanwhile he had obeyed that wink and was helping the delightful suspense by exclaiming:

"Hiram, I'll play you a rubber of Pitch for the second helping. And I'll bet you a package of Honest Long Cut' that it's"

"Gingerbread!" roared Cap'n Bluster.

"Spongecake!" the other.