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His ardor dampened by this rebuke, the gleam in Nat's eye became

one of ugliness at his humiliation before the crew of the Rosan.

He scowled furiously and stood by her side without saying a word.

It was in this unfortunate moment that Nellie seized on the

general topic of the day.

"Guess you'll have to get off and push the Nettie B. before you

can beat those Gloucestermen, Nat," she said, teasing him.

"Say, I've heard about all I want to hear about that!" he

snarled, suddenly losing control of himself as they walked back

to the little cabin. The girl looked at him in hurt amazement.

Never in all her life had a man spoken to her in such a tone. It

was inconceivable that the man she was going to marry could

address her so, if he even pretended to love her.

"Possibly you have," she returned, not without a touch of

asperity; "but you know as well as I do that you will have to

deal with a Gloucester-built schooner before you are through with

this voyage."