"No, I don't. Saving your objections, boy, I was elected captain, and it don't do away with my responsibility that I choose to let discipline go to the winds. If mischief comes I shall be to blame, because I might have stopped it but didn't." I was silent. This should have been the time for me to tell what I had discovered that afternoon; of the graveyard and the two strange women. But shame tied my tongue. I saw that this noble gentleman, in imparting his thoughts to me, was really condescending to ask my pardon; and the injustice of it was so monstrous that I felt a delicacy in letting him know the extent of my unworthiness. I temporized, and promised myself a better occasion. "But are you quite sure, sir, that yours was not the wisest plan, after all?" "The question is not worth considering," he answered. "My policy-- you would hardly call it a plan, for it wholly depended on circumstances--no longer exists. The ladies, you see, have forced my hand." I forbore to tell him that if the ladies had forced his hand his accepting full responsibility was simply quixotic. "She's a wonderful woman," said I, by way of filling up the pause. "And so womanly!" assented Captain Branscome, to my entire surprise. "Indeed, sir," I stammered. "Well, I _have_ heard people say--Mr. Rogers for one--that Miss Belcher ought to have been born a man." "Miss Belcher? Why, heavens alive, boy, I was referring to Miss Plinlimmon!" He dismissed me with a wave of the hand, but called me back as I turned to the door. "Oh, by the way," said he, "I had almost forgotten the reason why I sent for you. This man--have you any notion who he can be?" "None, sir." "You've thought over every possible person of your acquaintance? Well"--as I nodded--"we shall know to-morrow morning, if he keeps his word. Mr. Rogers has kindly undertaken to stay and look after the schooner. He has a sense of discipline, by the way, has Mr. Rogers." "If you wish me, sir, to stay with him-" "Thank you," he interrupted dryly, "but we shall need you ashore; in the first place to indentify this mysterious stranger, and also to help protect the ladies. Their escort, Heaven knows, is not excessive. We take the gig, and if the man fails to appear, or brings even so much as one companion, I give the word to return." But these apprehensions proved to be groundless. As we rowed around the bend next morning into view of the creek-head the man stood there alone, awaiting us. He saw us at once, and lifted his hat in welcome. "Do you know him, Harry?" asked Miss Belcher. "No," said I, pretty confidently, and then--"But, yes--in the garden, that evening--the day you went up to Plymouth for the sale!" "Eh? The garden at Minden Cottage? What on earth was he doing there?" "Nothing, ma'am--at least, I don't know. He seemed to be taking measurements, and he gave me a guinea. I rather think, ma'am, he was the man that attended the auction." "You never saw him until that evening?"