"My Cap'n!" The strong young arms were about the rugged neck. "You were just going to send up a Coston light, now weren't you, Daddy?" "No. I war not! I don't waste nary a Coston on a wuthless little hulk like ye. Come on, girl, I've been takin' it easy. I ain't as young as I once was. We must make the halfway in season. 'T ain't the fust time we've took the patrol together, is it, Janet?" He held the girl's hand in his, and she accommodated her step as nearly as possible to his long, swinging gait. "Kinder homesick?" he asked presently. "Kind of you-sick! I wanted to be near you. I wanted--you," Janet whispered. "Durned little cozzler!" chuckled Billy. "I know what yer up t'. Ain't got nothin' t' do yet, over on the mainland; just a lazy little tormint; an' ye want t' cozzen yer Cap'n Billy. Why can't ye jine the army that's plain fleecin' the city folks? They be the easiest biters, 'cordin' t' what I hear, that has ever run in t' these shoals. Reg'lar dogfish one an' all." "Oh! I pick up a penny now and then;" Janet pursed her pretty mouth and set her head sideways. "I made enough to pay Susan Jane for last week and this. Susan's an old leech, Cap'n Billy. It's simply awful to see her greed in money matters. Sitting in her chair, she can manage to want more, strive to get more, and make more fuss about it, than any other woman on the mainland. You have to live with Susan Jane to appreciate her. Oh! poor Davy. We never really knew what a hero he is, Daddy. He's splendid!" It had been necessary, unless Susan Jane was to receive double pay for her boarder, that Janet should inform Billy as to her money-getting; but once the fact was stated, the girl hurried to other thoughts, in order to divert Billy. "How'd ye get yer money, Janet?" A serious look came into the man's face. "It's uncommon clever of ye t' help yerself on; if the money only comes in a God-fearin' way!" "Cap'n Daddy!" Janet drew herself up magnificently. "Do you take me for Maud Grace?" "No, I don't, I'm takin' ye fur _my_ gal, an' it's my duty t' see that ye don't furgit yer trainin' over on the boarder-struck mainland! But what's wrong 'long o' Mrs. Jo G.'s gal?" "Nothing. Except she keeps dressed up to entertain the boarders, and takes tips. That's what she calls them." "Tips?" Billy wrinkled his brows. "Yes. Money for doing nothing. Cap'n Daddy, I _work_ for my money." "Doin' what?" Billy's insistence was growing vexatious. "Daddy, don't you ever tell!" Janet danced in front of him and walked backward as she pointed a finger merrily. The moonlight streaming upon the girl showed her beauty in a witchlike brightness. It stirred Billy in an uneasy, anxious fashion. "There ain't no call t' tell any one," he said, "you an' me is enough t' know. Us an' them what pays ye!" "Cap'n Daddy; I'm--a--model!" "A modil--what?" Janet's laugh rose above the lapping water's sound. "Why, Daddy! Don't you think I'm a model everything?"