"
"What d'ye mean?" asked the latter.
"Report from Fayal. A Portugee fisherman's picked up and brought in a
boat with 'Curlew' painted on her stern, and he saw spars and wreckage
driftin' near the empty boat. There's been a hurricane out there.
It--it looks bad, Cap'n Silt."
Before the latter could speak again Louise was at his side and had
seized his tattooed arm.
"Uncle Amazon!" she gasped. "Not the _Curlew_? Didn't I tell you
before? That is the schooner daddy-prof's party sailed upon. Can
there be two Curlews?"
"My soul and body!" exclaimed Cap'n Joab.
It was Cap'n Amazon who kept his head.
"Not likely to be two craft of the same name and register--no, my
dear," he said, patting her hand. "But don't take this so much to
heart. It's only rumor. A dozen things might have happened to set
that boat adrift. Ain't that so, Cap'n Joab?"
Cap'n Joab swallowed hard and nodded; but his wind-bitten face
displayed much distress. "I had no idee the gal's father was aboard
that schooner with Cap'n Abe.
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