Queenie sprang ahead gallantly at the sound of a hearty sneeze from Cap'n Ira, just then, and they were soon at home. Tunis jumped out and aided the old woman and then the captain to alight. Sheila got out on the other side of the carriage. She would have preferred to run on into the house, but she could not really do that. Queenie must be unharnessed and put in her stable and given a measure of oats to munch. Of course, Tunis would offer to do this, but she could not leave him to attend to it without a word. "I'll help you with Queenie, Ida May," said the captain of the _Seamew_. That settled it. She had to remain outside while Cap'n Ira and Prudence went into the house. Tunis led the old mare toward the barn. A lantern, burning very dimly, was in a box just outside the big door, and Sheila got this and held it while Tunis busied himself with the buckles. "I didn't mean to interfere," the man said, suddenly breaking the silence between them. "But as I was coming this way, of course, I expected to ride along with you. So--" "What do you mean, Captain Latham?" the girl asked wonderingly. "Orion said you sent him out to get Queenie." "Why, I--" "Of course, you didn't know I was there. I had just reached the church. But 'Rion is so fresh--" "He took it upon himself to go," said the girl calmly. "I did not send him. I guess you know how your cousin is." "He is too fresh. I'd like to punch him," growled Tunis, to the girl's secret delight. It sounded boyish, but real. "I don't know that I can stand him aboard the _Seamew_ much longer. He attends to everybody's business but his own." "He means you no good, Captain Latham," she said frankly. "To-night he was repeating that silly story about the _Seamew_ being haunted." "Cat's-foot!" ejaculated Tunis. "I wish I'd fired old Horry Newbegin for starting _that_." "But 'Rion keeps it up." "If he believed she was hoodoed, you wouldn't get him aboard with a wire cable," growled Tunis. "It would be better for you and for the success of your business, Captain Latham, if 'Rion was really afraid of going aboard the _Seamew_," she said with confidence. "Well, I don't see how I can fire him. He's my cousin--in a way. And there is enough ill feeling in the family now. Gran'ther Peleg left all his money to me, and it made Orion and his folks as sore as can be." "You are inclined to be too kind. I am not sure it is always wise to be too easy." "Like chopping off the dog's tail an inch at a time, so's not to hurt him so much, eh?" he chuckled. "Something like that." "Well, I'm almost tempted to give 'Rion his walking ticket. I've reason enough. He can't even keep a manifest straight." "Does he even try?" "And that also is in my mind," acknowledged Tunis. "I'm pretty well fed up on 'Rion, I do allow. But I don't know what Aunt 'Cretia would say." Then he laughed again. "Just about what she usually says, I guess; nothing at all. But she abhors family squabbles.