The hands that held the letter were red and hard and blunt-fingered, but not large. They did not look feminine, however; not in the least.
The light tap of the girl's heels as she stepped on the bare floor at the foot of the stairway aroused this person, who turned, revealing a rather grim, weather-beaten face, lit by little sharp brown eyes that proceeded to stare at Louise Grayling with frank curiosity.
"Humph!" ejaculated the woman.
Oh, it was a woman, Louise could now see, although Betty Gallup boasted a pronounced mustache and a voice both deep and hoarse, while she looked every inch the able seaman she was.
"Humph!" she exclaimed again. "You don't look much like a pirate, that's one comfort!"
Louise burst into gay laughter—she could not help it.
"I see by this letter Cap'n Abe left for me that you're his niece—his ha'f sister's child—name, Louise Grayling; and that you've come to stay a spell."
"Yes," the girl rejoined, still dimpling. "And I know you must be Mrs.
Gallup!"
"Bet Gallup. Yep. Ain't much chance of mistaking me," the woman said, still staring at Louise. "Humph! you're pretty 'nough not to need m'lasses to ketch flies. Why didn't Cap'n Abe stay to home when you come visiting him?"
"Why, he had his plans all laid to go away, if Uncle Amazon came."