He summoned up a smile for the child who was endeavoring to cheer him.
"I surely can truthfully say, 'I want it for you'," he said.
"I have ventured all that I had on that ship's cargo, because I believed it was sure to bring back a little fortune that would enable me to give greater comfort to your mother, Sprite, and you."
"Well, it's coming! It's coming! I know it is. I saw the golden ship last night in my dreams, and I sprang up and looked from the window, and the moonlight was making a bright, glittering path on the waves, just where, in my dream, the ship had been."
She had left the Captain's side to skip and dance about in her excitement, but now she came softly back to lean against him, as he sat in his big chair.
She laid her cheek against his a second, then looking into his kindly eyes, she said:
"It is stormy to-night, and it may storm to-morrow, but when it clears, I know, oh, I just know the ship will come in."
It was later than Sprite usually sat up, and the Captain pointed to the clock.
"It's late even for a cheerful little prophet to be up," he said, and Sprite danced away to her tiny chamber, happy in the thought that she had really cheered them. The next day the storm continued, but at night the gale diminished, and on the following day the sun rose bright, and golden, giving promise of a fine day.
Sprite ran out onto the beach.