“No wonder.  All alone in this ark of a house and nobody to help or to send.  Lucky she found that Ike Higgins.  Say, I wonder if the young one’s around here now?  If he is, he must stand at the gate and scare off Come-Outers.  The whole chapel, mates, crew, and cabin boy, ’ll be down here soon’s meetin’s over to see what kept Eben.  And they mustn’t get in.”

“I should say not.  I’ll hunt up Ike.  If a Come-Outer gets into this house to-night I’ll eat him, that’s all.”

“Some of ’em would give you dyspepsy, I guess.  Yes, Grace, I’ll be there in a jiffy.”

The doctor left the house to find young Higgins and post him at the gate.  The boy, who had been listening under the window, was proud of his new responsibility.

“I’ll fix ’em, doctor,” he declared.  “I only hope old Zeke Bassett comes.  He lammed me with a horsewhip t’other day, ‘cause I was ridin’ behind his ox cart.  If he tried to git by me, I’ll bounce a rock off’n his Sunday hat.”

“Doctor,” whispered Keziah from the kitchen window.  “Doctor, come quick.  Nat wants you.”

Captain Nat was standing at the door of the bedroom.  His face was drawn and he had seemingly grown years older since noon.

“He’s come to himself, doc,” he whispered.  “He don’t remember how it happened or anything.  And he wants us all.  Why! why, Keziah! are you here?”

“Yes, Nat.  I’ve been here a little while.”

He looked at her steadily and his eyes brightened just a trifle.

“Did you come to see me?” he asked.  “Was it about what I said this—­”

“No, no, Nat; no.  I heard the news and that Grace was alone; so I come right down.”

He nodded wearily.

“You can come in, too,” he said.  “I know dad likes you and I guess—­Wait a minute; I’ll ask him.”  He stepped back into the bedroom.  “Yes,” he nodded, returning, “you come, too.  He wants you.”

The little room, Captain Eben’s own, was more like a skipper’s cabin than a chamber on land.  A narrow, single bed, a plain washstand, a battered, painted bureau and a single chair—­these made up the list of furniture.  Two pictures, both of schooners under full sail, hung on the walls.  Beside them hung a ship’s barometer, a sextant, and a clock that struck the “bells,” instead of the hours as the landsman understands them.  In the corner stood the captain’s big boots and his oilskins hung above them.  His Sunday cane was there also.  And on the bureau was a worn, heavy Bible.

Dr. Parker brushed by the others and bent over the bed.

“Well, cap’n,” he said cheerily, “how’s she headed?  How are you feeling now?”

The old face on the pillow smiled feebly.

“She’s headed for home, I guess, doc,” said Captain Eben.  “Bound for home, and the harbor light broad abeam, I cal’late.”

“Oh, no! you’ll make a good many voyages yet.”

“Not in this hulk, I won’t, doctor.  I hope I’ll have a new command pretty soon.  I’m trustin’ in my owners and I guess they’ll do the fair thing by me.  Halloo, Gracie, girl!  Well, your old uncle’s on his beam ends, ain’t he?”