Presently there came a knock at the door, and opening it, Mrs. Day found her husband outside.
"How is she?" he asked.
"Better, poor soul!" she replied.
"Well," he said, "you'd better come on deck. The captain's upset and has been asking me questions about 'un."
"And what did you say?" she demanded anxiously.
"Well," he retorted, with a grim smile, "seeing as you've started the game, I thought as how you'd better continue it, so I left 'em to you."
She stood for a moment thinking deeply, then followed him on deck.
The schooner was scudding along at a pace which put all danger from pursuit out of the question; but the captain, who was leaning against the bulwarks smoking a pipe, did not look at all comfortable or amiable.
"Well, Mrs. Day," he began at once, "what's this yarn about your cousin? Sakes alive! I'm fond of your sex enough, but I like 'em best on shore. Who is she, and what is she doing out in the boat?"
"She's my cousin, Captain Daniel," said Mrs. Day promptly, "and she's in trouble. I don't know as I ought to tell you the story, but seeing that we brought her on board——"