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"Better lie down a
piece, Jason Olley."

When a man has lost his only son, his summer's work, and his means
of livelihood, in thirty counted seconds, it is hard to give
consolation.

"All Gloucester men, wasn't they," said Tom Platt, fiddling
helplessly with a dory-becket.

"Oh, that don't make no odds," said Jason, wringing the wet from
his beard. "I'll be rowin' summer boarders araound East Gloucester
this fall." He rolled heavily to the rail, singing.

"Happy birds that sing and fly
Round thine altars, O Most High!"

"Come with me. Come below!" said Penn, as though he had a right to
give orders. Their eyes met and fought for a quarter of a minute.

"I dunno who you be, but I'll come," said Jason, submissively.
"Mebbe I'll get back some o' the - some o' the - nine thousand
dollars." Penn led him into the cabin and slid the door behind.

"That ain't Penn," cried Uncle Salters. "It's Jacob Boiler, an' -
he's remembered Johnstown! I never seed such eyes in any livin'
man's head.
What's to do naow? What'll I do naow?"

They could hear Penn's voice and Jason's together. Then Penn's
went on alone, and Salters slipped off his hat, for Penn was
praying. Presently the little man came up the steps, huge drops of
sweat on his face, and looked at the crew. Dan was still sobbing
by the wheel.

"He don't know us," Salters groaned. "It's all to do over again,
checkers and everything - an' what'll he say to me?"

Penn spoke; they could hear that it was to strangers. "I have
prayed," said he. "Our people believe in prayer. I have prayed for
the life of this man's son. Mine were drowned before my eyes - she
and my eldest and - the others. Shall a man be more wise than his
Maker? I prayed never for their lives, but I have prayed for this
man's son, and he will surely be sent him."

Salters looked pleadingly at Penn to see if he remembered.

"How long have I been mad?" Penn asked suddenly. His mouth was
twitching.

"Pshaw, Penn! You weren't never mad," Salters began. "Only a
little distracted like."

"I saw the houses strike the bridge before the fires broke out. I
do not remember any more. How long ago is that?"

"I can't stand it! I can't stand it!" cried Dan, and Harvey
whimpered in sympathy.

"Abaout five year," said Disko, in a shaking voice.

"Then I have been a charge on some one for every day of that time.
Who was the man?"

Disko pointed to Salters.

"Ye hain't - ye hain't!" cried the sea-farmer, twisting his hands
together. "Ye've more'n earned your keep twice-told; "an' there's
money owin' you, Penn, besides ha'af o' my quarter-share in the
boat, which is yours fer value received."

"You are good men. I can see that in your faces. But -"

"Mother av Mercy," whispered Long Jack, "an' he's been wid us all
these trips! He's clean bewitched."

A schooner's bell struck up alongside, and a voice hailed through
the fog: "O Disko! 'Heard abaout the Jennie Cushman?"

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