“And Cap'n Hedge and Luther Davis are over at the station pretty nigh dead. If it wa'n't for the Cap'n, Luther'd have gone, too. Eri took a dory and went off and picked him up. Perez come over to my house and told us about it, and Pashy's gone back with him to see to her brother. I didn't go down to the store this mornin', 'twas stormin' so, but as soon as I heard I harnessed up to come and tell you.” Then, in answer to the hurried questions of Captain Jerry and Elsie, Mr. Mayo told the whole story as far as he knew it. Mrs. Snow said nothing, but sat with her hands still clasped in her lap. “Luther is ha'f drownded and froze,” concluded Abner, “and the Cap'n got a bang with an oar when they jumped out of the dory that, Perez is afraid, broke his arm. I'm goin' right back to git Dr. Palmer. They tried to telephone him, but the wire's down.” “Dear! dear! dear!” exclaimed Captain Jerry, completely demoralized by the news. “That's dreadful! I must go right down there, mustn't I? The poor fellers!” Mrs. Snow rose to her feet quietly, but with a determined air. “Are you goin' right back soon's you've got the Doctor, Mr. Mayo?” she asked. “Why, no, I wa'n't. I ain't been to my store this mornin', and I'm 'fraid I ought to be there.” To be frank, Abner was too great a sensation lover to forfeit the opportunity of springing his startling news on the community. “Then, Josiah, you'll have to harness Dan'l and take me down. I mustn't wait another minute.” “Why, Mrs. Snow!” expostulated Captain Jerry, “you mustn't go down there. The Doctor's goin', and I'll go, and Pashy's there already.” But the housekeeper merely waved him aside. “I want you to stay here with Elsie,” she said. “There's no tellin' how long I may be gone. Josiah 'll drive me down, won't you, Josiah?” There was no lack of enthusiasm in the “able seaman's” answer. The boy was only too glad of the chance. “But it ain't fit weather for you to be out in. You'll git soakin' wet.” “I guess if Pashy Davis can stand it, I can. Elsie, will you come and help me git ready, while Josiah's harnessin'?” As they entered the chamber above, Elsie was thunderstruck to see her companion seat herself in the rocker and cover her face with her hands. If it had been anyone else it would not have been so astonishing, but the cool, self-possessed housekeeper--she could scarcely believe it. “Why, Mrs. Snow!” she exclaimed, “what IS it?” The lady from Nantucket hastily rose and wiped her eyes with her apron. “Oh, nothin',” she answered, with an attempt at a smile. “I'm kind of fidgety this mornin', and the way that man started off to tell his yarn upset me; that's all. I mustn't be such a fool.”