"A few, drifting down it by flatboat."
"Oh, by Christopher!" broke out the mate, "I remember you now! Yo're that play-actor! Yo're the man, by gad! who hauled me into yo' skiff half roasted and half drownded when the Quakeress was a-burnin'! By George, look here! What do you want on this boat, that you ain't already got? Name it, sir, just name it! Oh, by hokey, sir, I——!"
Smilingly the actor shook his head while his wife beamed delightedly. "We haven't a want ungratified," he answered.
"Oh, please!" put in Ramsey, "yes, you have—one!"
"Have we, mademoiselle? Surely we have if you have."
The mate interposed. "That's a daughter of Gideon Hayle, sir—as good a captain, by Joe, as ever took out a boat——"
The wife nodded gayly. "We know him," she said.
"Oh!" laughed Ramsey, scanning the pair up and down.
"What is it we want, worthy daughter of Gideon Hayle?" asked the player—"you and my wife and I—and your—this is your brother, is he not?"
Ramsey's mouth and eyes spread wide. She turned to Hugh and at sight of his heavy face whisked round again with her handkerchief to her lips. The mate spoke for her: