Page:Mehalah 1920.djvu/69

Rh "I would have gone through tar, water, and fire," said Glory vehemently. "I would not have been beat." "I have no doubt about it, you would," observed George, "but you forget there might be worse things behind. An old woman after a stiff glass of grog, when, her monkey is up, is better left to sleep off her liquor and her displeasure before encountered." "I would not tell the story," said Mehalah; "it does you no credit."

"This is too bad of you, Glory! You ran me foul of her, and now reproach me for my steering." "You will run into plenty of messes if you go after Mehalah at night," put in Phœbe with a saucy laugh.

"Glory! " said De Witt, "come on the other side of Phœbe and give her your arm. She is lame. She has hurt her foot, and we are coming now to the mud." "Oh, I cannot think of troubling Mehalah," said Phœbe sharply; "you do not mind my leaning my whole weight on you, I know, George. You did not mind it at the Decoy." "Here is the ladder," said De Witt; "step on my foot and then you will not dirty your shoe-leather in the mud. Don't think you will hurt me; A light feather like you will be unfelt." "Do you keep the ladder down day and night?" asked Glory. "No. It is always hauled up directly I come home. Only that one night did mother draw it up without me. We are as safe in the Pandora as you are at the Ray." "And there is this in the situation which is like," said Phœbe, pertly, "that neither can entice robbers, and need securing, as neither has anything to lose." "I beg your pardon," answered George, "there are my savings on board. My mother sleeps soundly, so she will not turn in till the ladder is up. That is the same as locking the door on land. If you have money in the till" "There always is money there, plenty of it too."

"I have no doubt about it, Phœbe. Under these circumstances you do not go to bed and leave your door open. "I should think not. You go first up the ladder, I will follow. Mehalah can stop and paddle in her native